GEVREY PRIMED FOR PIPE

Gevrey Chambertin can give David Pipe a fifth win in the Betfred Midlands Grand National by showing the necessary abundant stamina over four miles one and a half furlongs at Uttoxeter tomorrow.

Pipe has been the most successful trainer of this marathon in recent times, with four winners in a row from 2011-14.

It is obviously a race the Nicholashayne handler targets, even though it comes right at the end of Cheltenham week so he has a lot of other things in his mind.

A big future had been forecast for Gevrey Chambertin in his early days and while he has not lived up to high expectations, his form stands up in a race of this nature.

The nine-year-old was in the process of putting in one of his best performances for some time in the Eider Chase at Newcastle last month but unseated his rider at the 19th fence when travelling well in fifth place.

Pipe will have left no stone unturned to restore the grey’s confidence in preparation for a crack at this valuable prize.

Harry Fry’s decision to sidestep the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with American can pay dividends with a decent pay day in the Betfred TV Novices’ Handicap Chase.

Fry can also strike with Dashing Oscar in the Betfred ‘Treble Odds On Lucky 15’s’ Handicap Hurdle.

The seven-year-old has enjoyed a fruitful campaign winning his first two races and placed in his last two.