'Stamina is so much his forte' - analysis and key quotes for the marathon London National

It's just as well the only chase action before this card-closing marathon is a couple of two-mile Grade 1s. With the forecast rain, a churned-up track and more than three and half miles, there is the potential for a slow-motion finish. 

If that happens, connections of Mr Vango will cheer every drop and hoofprint. This is a horse who sloshed through Exeter's slop in February to win by 60 lengths. He was then the subject of a remarkable gamble in an unusually soft Scottish National, going off 4-1 favourite.

That plunge went awry, as Mr Vango was pulled up. He's not a horse who has stood much racing, and that he now wears a tongue-tie adds more anxiety. If he can stay sound, there is surely a mud-spattered marathon in him. Run well here and he might go favourite for the Welsh National.

Those above Mr Vango in the weights – Tommie Beau, Certainly Red and Ballygrifincottage – would be unlikely to relish the mud for one reason or another. The primary danger is Montgomery, who, like Mr Vango, may have found the ground was not testing enough at Ayr in April.

He won three times on deep ground in the spring, having gone straight over fences for Venetia Williams. He comes into this race on the same path as Quick Wave, who won on her seasonal reappearance for the same yard in 2022.

The trainer with the most notable record in this race is Neil Mulholland. He has won two runnings in the last decade, trained Planned Paradise when he was second to Quick Wave and also 'won' the voided running in 2019. 

His representative this year is Conkwell Legend, a horse whose talent is not doubted but for whom the fences have a habit of getting in the way. The risks of backing him around Sandown hardly need spelling out, but only Mr Vango is likely to relish it more if conditions come up bottomless.
Race analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Simon Prout, owner of Tommie Beau
The extreme distance will suit him fine and he’s won lots of regional Nationals, so we’re hopeful. Ideally, we don’t want too much rain. He has won on soft and heavy ground, but is definitely better on some decent ground. If he wins another race he’d have a rating in the high 140s, which would get him into the Grand National.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Ballygrifincottage
He had an uncharacteristic fall last time. He’s done plenty of jumping since at home and the trip should be ideal. The chase track shouldn’t get too soft for him and he ran well for a long way in the Scottish National.

Dan Skelton: runs Ballygrifincottage in the London National at SandownCredit: Edward Whitaker

Sara Bradstock, trainer of Mr Vango
The Welsh National is the big target – we think it’s the ideal race for him. People might think that it isn’t ideal running over three miles five furlongs at Sandown just three weeks before the Welsh National, but stamina is so much his forte. We’re hoping he’s improved again, although he’s never going to be fast. He needs a stamina test, which is why we need it to rain before Christmas.

Nigel Twiston-Davies, trainer of Top Of The Bill
He's a good old stayer and conditions are likely to prove ideal if all the rain that is forecast does arrive.  

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Broken Halo
We’re going the same route as last year with him and he was travelling well in this until he fell at the second-last 12 months ago. He won’t mind the ground and if he doesn’t need the run too much he should run well.

Broken Halo: fell at the second-last in the race last year when going wellCredit: Edward Whitaker

Chris Gordon, trainer of Unanswered Prayers
Looking at the forecast, the ground may well go against him as he doesn’t want it soft. If they miss the rain and it dries out, however, he would have a great chance.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Montgomery
It's his first step over the extended distance, but what he did last season suggested he ought to appreciate it. Any rain is always welcome.
Reporting by David Milnes

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