Apple Away camp confident of bold Midlands National bid Apple Away will not be winning out of turn if she can claim top honours in the Jenningsbet Midlands Grand National on Saturday. The Lucinda Russell-trained eight-year-old sent members of the Old Gold Racing syndicate wild with a Grade One victory over hurdles at Aintree two years ago, since when she has plied her trade over the larger obstacles. Although ultra-consistent, Apple Away has managed only two wins from her 10 chase starts to date and will head for Uttoxeter having finishing second in her last three races, most recently best of the rest behind Famous Bridge in the Grand National Trial at Haydock last month. Old Gold Racing’s chief executive Ed Seyfried said: “She’s a small mare but she’s got the heart of a lion, or a lioness I suppose. As Peter Scudamore (assistant trainer) says, what she lacks in size, she makes up for in sheer grit. “A race over further than four miles should be right up her street and while the Scottish National is the target, we just felt that if the ground dried up by the time Ayr came up, we might not be going there expecting such a good run. “We think she’s going to Uttoxeter with a really, really good chance. Lucinda had Mighty Thunder finish second in the Midlands National before winning the Scottish National and if I can find a bookmaker that will let me have a bet on the double, I might have a go! “We’re really upbeat and really excited and I have to thank ARC (Arena Racing Company) as they’ve given Old Gold Racing members a great discount on tickets. It will be packed anyway and with plenty of Old Gold members coming along, the atmosphere should be like a football match.” The likely favourite for the £160,000 contest is Ryan Potter’s Knockanore, who bids to follow up a runaway success in the Eider Chase at Newcastle three weeks ago. “He was very impressive but has been put up 10lb – which is probably fair enough, but will make it tougher,” said Potter. “In an ideal world, the race would be in a couple of weeks’ time as it’s quite a quick turnaround for a four-mile race, but he seems to be in good order. “He stayed no problem at Newcastle but I don’t imagine he is an out and out slogger in heavy ground, so hopefully conditions on Saturday will suit him being good to soft, which is similar to Newcastle, and we’re looking forward to it.” Invincible Nao is on a hat-trick for Gary and Josh Moore following successive winter wins at Plumpton and the former is looking forward to seeing how the seven-year-old fares over the marathon trip of four and a quarter miles. He said: “It was the obvious race for him after his last win in the Sussex National. He could ideally have done with a bit softer ground I think, but he’s going further than he’s been before and the ground might actually help him stay better if it’s not too testing. “The lad who rides him every day is very happy with him and he’s training well and he goes there on the back of two wins and in good form. In a valuable race like that, you have to take a chance and it would be good if he could run well.”
