Our big-race analyst with an improving stayer to support in Midlands National

Marston's 61 Deep Midlands Grand National

3.35 Uttoxeter

It is unusual for a 157-rated Ladbrokes Trophy winner to run here, but De Rasher Counter did win the valuable novice handicap on last year's card. The Newbury race has received various boosts since and there is every chance he will stay.

The novice, Dominateur, has been raised from 127 to 144 for two victories at Chepstow in December. Synchronised was the highest-rated novice to score in 2010. The Oliver Sherwood-trained seven-year-old needs to improve on his last of three finishers in the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase at Wetherby.