'That was special' - Jordan Nailor enjoys biggest win on Beauport in Midlands Grand National - and Aintree could be on the agenda next year

Jordan Nailor celebrated the biggest victory of his career when sporting the Corbiere silks on  Beauport in the £150,000 bet365 Midlands Grand National, and the Aintree showpiece could be on the agenda next year.

Owners Bryan and Philippa Burrough enjoyed Grand National and Welsh National success with the Jenny Pitman-trained Corbiere in the early 1980s and added Uttoxeter’s marathon contest to their illustrious staying chase achievements with the eight-year-old.

The Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Beauport jumped right on occasions and hung right on a couple of the bends, but he stayed on relentlessly in gruelling conditions to beat the Willie Mullins-trained Mr Incredible by a length and three-quarters. Classic Chase winner My Silver Lining ran another fine race, finishing a further half a length back in third.

This was a triumph for loyalty, with the Burroughs sticking with Nailor throughout Beauport’s career. He first rode Beauport as a 5lb claimer in late 2020 and has partnered the son of Califet on 17 of his 19 starts.

Nailor was delighted to repay their faith with another high-profile win, having landed the EBF Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Sandown in 2021 and the Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle the following year. They have recorded five wins, five seconds and a third as a partnership.

The winning rider, who saluted the crowd when crossing the line, said: “I’ve won the Badger Beer but this is my biggest victory and it means an awful lot to do it on this horse. He means so much to me.

“I’ve ridden him since I was a 5lb claimer and he’s still giving me big Saturday winners – he’s amazing and Bryan and Philippa have been so loyal to me.

“The bends were a bit tight for him and he was hanging a bit, but he really motored down to the third-last and I felt he still had a bit left to give. He galloped all the way to the line and is improving all the time with his jumping, so he’s still going the right way.”

Beauport jumps a fence on the way to victory in the Uttoxeter featureCredit: John Grossick Racing

The Velka Pardubicka and second-place finishes in the Scottish and London National also feature on the Burroughs’ racing CV and a tilt at the Grand National with this consistent chaser could be on the cards in April 2025.

Bryan Burrough said: “That was special. He was rather dismissed for this race after his rare below-par run last time, but he’s made for long-distance chases like this.

“Carl [Llewellyn] is very involved with the horse and has played a big part, and it’s just great to see the colours back winning a National. We quite like the Nationals!

“We’re always trying to find long-distance chasers and, with his rating now up, we may well have a look at Aintree next year. I’m so delighted for Jordan, he’s won on him so many times and gets on with him so well. He’s the main man and rides him beautifully.”

The Grand National is very much on the agenda for Mr Incredible, who qualified for the Aintree showpiece with a fine effort in defeat on his first start in 336 days when carrying 12st under Brian Hayes. He was cut to a best-price 33-1 (from 40) with bet365.

Patrick Mullins said: “It was a super run off top weight on his return. He has an awful lot of ability and I’d imagine we’ll go back to Aintree. The saddle slipped going around the Canal Turn last year, and he was going nicely at that point, so the whole plan for the season has been to get him back for that.”

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