Mad about the chances of Brian in Midlands Grand National

David Metcalf | March 18, 2016

Mad Brian has a Grand chance in Midlands National

Irish raider Mad Brian looks decent each-way value in a typically wide-open renewal of the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (16.10).

The Gillian Callaghan trained gelding is very lightly raced for a 10-year-old and had some useful form to his name over hurdles before making a winning chase debut at Killarney back in May 2014 when beating Toner D’oudairies’ by a length.

Mad Brian went on to be placed in his next two starts, and they included a cracking second of 20 to Cootamundra in the valuable Troytown Handicap Chase at Navan off a mark of 135.

The son of Brian Boru raced prominently through and kept on strongly all the way to the line to go down by just 1/2 a length.

Terrific run given inexperience

It was a terrific run given that it was just Mad Brian’s third run over the larger obstacles against battle-hardened and established chasers in what is a very competitive contest.

Mad Brian then ran as well as could be expected when sixth to the classy Carlingford Lough in a Grade 1 contest at Leopardstown, before falling at the last at Navan when in the lead and having the race at his mercy.

Injury then saw the selection on the sidelines for 734 days, but Mad Brian hasn’t shaped too badly in two spins over hurdles since returning to action and looks to be coming to the boil.