Classy Midnight has all the makings of a National hero

The old saying about buses – you wait ages for one and then two come together – might apply to Scottish winners of the Grand National come 5:15pm today. Thirty eight years after Rubstic’s win at Aintree, Lucinda Russell’s One for Arthur ended the long, barren spell 12 months ago and Scotland could make it back-to-back wins this afternoon with two prime candidates for the big race.

Cases can be made for Seeyouatmidnight and Captain Redbeard, both trained in the Borders, but the preference goes to the former.

Trained by Sandy Thomson at Lambden Farm, Greenlaw, Midnight has some class form. In 2016, he beat Blaklion, one of the leading fancies for the National, in the Dipper Chase at Cheltenham, demolished subsequent Grand 1 winner Bristol de Mai at Carlisle and was third in the Scottish Grand National.

Carrying 10st 12lb, he seems extremely well in at the weights. The crux, of course, is whether he retains that ability after 12 months sidelined through injury. Midnight made his return with a creditable third over an inadequate two-and-a-half miles at Newbury late last month after bad weather prevented earlier appearances and Thomson was delighted with the run.

“He’s fully recovered. I rode him on the Thursday and Friday at Newbury and was delighted how he felt. Danny

Seeyouatmidnight is well weighted to land the Aintree spoils.

Cook [his jockey at Newbury] reported how good he felt, too, but said he just blew up after the last. Not to blow my own trumpet, but the one thing I have been able to do is get the older horses, like Harry the Viking, to retain their ability even though they have spent a bit of time in the wilderness.”

“One of the things that really pleased me at Newbury was that it is a big track and he jumped it really well, even though he hadn’t jumped a fence even here since his run in the Betfair Chase in 2016. We wouldn’t have chosen to go to Newbury but, in the end, it might have worked out for the best.”

Midnight goes into the race having never fallen, while the four-mile plus distance should not pose any problems given his performance in the Scottish National. Thomson is also confident Midnight will handle any type of ground.

Without doubt, Midnight ticks many of the boxes needed to win the National, which probably prompted Cheveley Park Stud’s David and Patricia Thompson to buy him this week, although the horse, formerly owned by Thomson’s wife, Quona, will still