Midlands National glory for Mr Vango and Sara Bradstock

In a week of poignant and popular successes, Mr Vango continued the theme as he defied top-weight to continue his excellent season and claim the JenningsBet Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.

Sara Bradstock’s nine-year-old took the London National at Sandown in December and then triumphed in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January when defeating Iwilldoit by three lengths.

He is a strapping horse who has always been considered an out-and-out stayer, with the four-and-a-quarter-mile Midlands National providing a real test of his stamina.

The ground was not as deep as it often is at the meeting and not as testing as it was assumed he would need when starting at 11-1 under Jack Tudor among a field of 16.

He never looked outpaced, however, and travelled and jumped happily throughout under his top-weight burden to come home an impressive one-length winner from Tanganyika.

“He’s wonderful, isn’t he?” Bradstock told Sky Sports Racing.

“He just doesn’t know when to give up, he gallops and jumps and just keeps going.

“He is much better than anybody thought, if you saw him at home you’d laugh because he seems to be slow!”

The Grand National at Aintree is the ultimate aim for Mr Vango, who will not make the cut based on his rating this time but will be campaigned with a view to doing so next season.

A good run there would only further boost his place in Bradstock’s affections, though he is already much loved after he put a smile on the face of her late husband Mark before his death in 2024.

“The dream is the Grand National but he won’t get in (this year), the ground will probably go for him this year, so we’ve got to do everything we can do persuade the handicapper to give us a chance next season,” said Bradstock, who was celebrating Gold Cup glory 10 years ago with Coneygree.

“He is very special because he really cheered Mark in his final weeks, he knew we had another good horse.”

Tudor, who has ridden the horse several times throughout his career, added: “He’s great fun and he’s a great jumper.

“That ground was actually quite testing and he loves that ground, he just keeps going.

“I’m very lucky, I’m not connected to the team so I’m lucky they’ve put me up on the big day.”