Midnight’s new owners

● Scotland Aintree hope is bought by Cheveley Park Stud

Scotland’s hope for the Randox Health Grand National Seeyouatmidnight has been bought by David and Patricia Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud and will run in their colours at Aintree on Saturday.

The 10-year-old, trained by Sandy Thomson, had been owned by his wife, Quona.

The Thompsons bought Le Mercureyandhighlandlodge the week before last year’s race, with the former 12th and the latter pulled up. Party Politics famously won the National in their pink-and-purple colours in 1992.

Thomson said: “Anthony Bromley (bloodstock agent) approached us at Newbury and it has now been confirmed that he has been bought by Mr and Mrs Thompson of Cheveley Park Stud.

“It was a long drive home from Newbury thinking about it, but in the end it wasn’t really a difficult decision. He’s been confirmed for the race and they will be the confirmed owners.”

A Grade Two winner over hurdles and with a defeat of Blaklion to his name in the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham, Seeyouatmidnight’s last two seasons have been interrupted by injury. The horse has been backed into 16-1 for the National.

Inclement weather has been Thomson’s biggest problem in recent months as he had been declared for several races, only to see them abandoned, and he managed to squeeze a qualifying race for the National in at Newbury on 24 March.

Berwickshire handler Thomson said: “The horse is in great form and Brian Hughes definitely rides him –nothing has changed on that front.”

Meanwhile, Count Octave fell short when tried in top company last term, but it will be disappointing if he cannot win the FCL Global Forwarding Novice Stakes at Wolverhampton today. Trainer Andrew Balding hiked his charge up in class following a bloodless victory at this track last March, pitching him straight into a Derby trial at Chester were he ran respectably in fifth,

The Frankel colt is entered in next month’s Yorkshire Cup and this looks a relatively straightforward assignment ahead of that important date, despite the fact he is taking a drop in trip to 12 furlongs.