Racing tips: Floueur could be the dark horse in the Midlands National

This tip has expired. Please check our free horse racing tips section of the website to find the most up to date.

We go from the Cheltenham Festival being a great week of racing, to now returning to the normal stuff we see every day. It's always a shame when it finishes, even though it's some of the hardest racing to pick a winner, but it's just so entertaining.

Not much really stood off the page today, but I am partial to a selection in the big National handicap chases, so I'll be having a play at Uttoxeter on one of the big-priced outsiders.

Uttoxeter 3:00 – Floueur 33/1 (0.5pt ew 5pl)

Floueur is a really big price of 33/1 for the Midland's National, but I think he has a cracking chance in this if he bounces back to form. Obviously, the main word in the sentence is ‘IF', but I get the impression that this race has been the plan since Gary Hanmer obtained this horse from the Gordon Elliott stable.

When trained by Gordon he has always been a horse who has hinted at ability, both as a hurdler and a chaser. When a horse of this nature drops out of his yard you tend to think that they don't think he's good enough anymore, which might be true, but I think he is worth a chance for this smaller UK yard that is very capable. He hasn't convinced fully as a chaser, but there were some positive vibes around Cheltenham last year when he was the favourite for the Ultimate handicap won by Corach Rambler. He finished 10th that day and reportedly would've liked slower ground. I think Cheltenham is a tough place for a novice, especially over fences in a big field handicap, the fences and occasion can get on top of horses and they don't run to form.

However, the run before his Cheltenham effort last season was a 3rd in the Punchestown Grand National Trial. He finished 3rd that day and was probably booked for 2nd at best, but he made a hash of the last, but managed to show how well he stayed and finished in 3rd. He looks like a real stayer, which is why today's ground and trip will hopefully bring out improvement.

I mentioned at the start of this that I think this has been the plan. Gary Hanmer has only run him once since getting him, which seems strange considering we've just gone past Cheltenham, where he would've been able to run in the handicaps. But, his sole run was over hurdles, over 2m 4f which is obviously too short, but it was at this track. I think they wanted to see how he moved around Uttoxeter, see if he liked what the track had to offer. He wasn't fancied that day so seeing him run how he did wasn't a surprise. He isn't fancied for today's race, but that's probably due to his run on stable debut, but this time he gets a trip which will suit. If his jumping holds up, I think he has a good each-way chance of hitting the frame at the very least.

Horse Racing Tips

🔗 Share Your Horse Racing Tips on Social Media