This year’s renewal of the Midlands Grand National promises to be a searching test of stamina as always, and there’s every chance the market may have slightly misjudged where the strongest claims lie.

Strongest Contender: APPLE AWAY 7/1
While plenty will be drawn to the claims of the progressive TANGANYIKA 11/2 and the thriving KNOCKANORE 8/1, APPLE AWAY 7/1 shapes as the most compelling option in this deep staying handicap. A proven stayer with a rock-solid attitude, she arrives here off a sequence of consistently high-level performances in strong races – notably a clear second in the Grand National Trial at Haydock where she finished well clear of the rest and left the impression she’d relish this further step up in trip.

She comes out top of adjusted ratings on private figures, and her tactical versatility coupled with an assured ability to handle good to soft ground makes her profile the most complete in this field. With the weight structure compressed slightly below the top end, her mark looks more than workable, and her overall consistency in marathon chases marks her down as the standard-setter.

Overlooked in the Market: FORTUNEDEFORTUNATA 8/1 & ANGLERS CRAG 14/1
One runner who appears underpriced on the early tissue is FORTUNEDEFORTUNATA, who produced a notable effort to win a competitive Punchestown handicap chase last time, travelling smoothly and showing the necessary battling qualities late on. That performance was a marked step up on anything he’d shown previously, and there’s a strong case to suggest this extreme test could unlock further improvement. Given his lightly-raced profile over long distances, he’s a horse on the rise that may not yet have peaked in terms of ratings.

At a bigger price, ANGLERS CRAG also rates as a notable lurker. His recent fourth in the Edinburgh National came from a suboptimal mid-race move, but the overall body of his staying chase form suggests he’s not far off the required standard. He’s been running consistently well in long-distance events and may be capable of out-running his odds if delivered more patiently this time.

Summary:
APPLE AWAY looks the one they’ll all have to beat, but FORTUNEDEFORTUNATA and ANGLERS CRAG are perhaps the two that the market hasn’t quite caught up with, each holding enough on the clock and in profile to warrant a second look.