Barry Connell is banking on soft ground and a staying trip to bring out the best in Punchestown scorer My Immortal as he goes for Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National glory at Uttoxeter.
Connell was forced to rule out stable star Marine Nationale from the defence of his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at the Cheltenham Festival but could gain ample compensation with a trip to Staffordshire with his soft-ground loving runner.
Connell said: “The key to him is soft ground and when we normally start our horses off at Galway in October, nine times out 10 it is heavy ground.
“We sent a few to that meeting and they came back jarred and then when he ran at Leopardstown at Christmas, the ground was watered and he was pulled up.
“Soft ground and a trip is what he’s desperate for and what he got at Punchestown the last day, where he got into a lovely rhythm and Finnian Maguire gave him a lovely ride.
“We were looking at options and there was this or the Irish National which he may or may not have got into, but I think this race could suit him better.
“I don’t think he’ll have trouble staying the trip and he hit the line hard at Punchestown having looked like he might be in trouble at the second last. He picked up well from the back of the last.
“He’s gone up 7lb and given an extra 3lb in the UK, but he’s been in great form since Punchestown and I think conditions should be ideal.”
The Irish challenge is strengthened by Emmet Mullins’ J’Arrive De L’Est, who himself was in contention for a run at the Cheltenham Festival having finished second twice at Prestbury Park in cross-country events this term.
The home defence is led by Nick Gifford’s Aworkinprogress, who despite seeing his six-race sequence come to an end at Chepstow before Christmas, got back on track at Lingfield in the Surrey National.
His handler is hoping for plenty of rain ahead of the seven-year-old’s stiffest assignment to date and said: “The more rain the better for him and he’s in great form. I can’t wait to see him over a proper staying trip.
“This is the obvious race for him and he’s a stayer but obviously he would appreciate it if it kept raining.
“He’s defied a rise every time but this is by far the biggest test for him. He’s been running round small fields and this will be a whole different ball game, so it will be interesting to see how he copes.
“He jumps well, he travels and appreciates soft ground, so if it is soft he’ll go there with a good chance.”
Also towards the head of the betting is Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence, who ran with real credit in defeat behind the likes of Haiti Couleurs and Grand Geste this term.
“I think he’ll enjoy the trip and we had some niggles with him last year, but he’s come back and been a different horse this year,” said Elli Morgan of owners My Racing Manager Friends.
“I was quite surprised he ran so well on quick ground at Chepstow in the Welsh Grand National, so I’m not so worried about the ground as I was. He’s been enjoying himself and we hope he will run well.”
