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FOLLOWING the Willie Mullins show at Cheltenham, the diary returns to less exalted action across the board in the UK and Ireland, although the Closutton maestro could still leave his mark in the feature race of the day, the Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase (Uttoxeter, 3.00).

As always this extended four-and-a-quarter-mile event is going to be a real deep stamina test and the Champion trainer has the quirky Mr Incredible entered, probably as a warm-up for the Aintree Grand National next month.

He ran a cracking race at Liverpool last year, going well until a leather broke after jumping the Canal Turn for the final time, and he is undoubtedly a player here if on a going day. However, he is not a reliable sort and I would much rather have a play on DOM OF MARY at around the 14/1 market.

One thing that this mare does is stay and stay well as she demonstrated when landing the Sussex National at Plumpton. Last time out at Sandown Park she found the ground way too lively for her, but that will surely not be a problem her and she gets the vote over the likes of Guetapan Collonges and another strong staying mare and the Warwick Classic heroine and My Silver Lining.

There are some nice prizes up for grabs on the rest of the card at the “Potteries” track and there are several players that will relish the wet and muddy conditions with the possibility of more rain on the way, That should suit the very strong staying LORD SNOOTIE down to the ground in the three-mile handicap hurdle, due off at 2.25.

The Christian Williams-trained gelding is very lightly raced with only 10 starts under his belt and signalled that his time was close at hand when a strong finishing half a length second to Cuthbert Dibble at Haydock Park last time out.

On that occasion the son of Malinas was a little bit short of room coming around the home bend and at the third last, but recovered to fire down the outside only to find the winning post coming a shade too soon. There is little doubt that he would have won with a clear passage and off a 3lbs higher mark, he could be the picks of the weights by some way ahead of the likes of light weight Minella Blueway and the likely favourite, the highly progressive Saint Davy. The last named was hugely impressive in a Premier handicap hurdle at Sandown Park last time out but has a 5lbs penalty to shoulder here and will need a career best to land this nice prize.

Also on the Uttoxeter card have a look at CASUAL OBSERVER in the opening novice hurdle at 1.15 and later on GOOD WORK in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase due off at 4.10. The last named has not been beaten far on his last two starts on heavy ground a may just have needed his last run at Haydock Park following a short lay-off. The eight-year-old may make the most of the weight he is set to receive from the hat-trick seeking Bolsover Bill.

The ground will be a deal better at Kempton Park where many runners will be seeking compensation for not getting into the Cheltenham Festival handicaps last week.

It’s a right old competitive card, but I have had my eye on WEST BALBOA off top weight in the Handicap Hurdle at 2.10 as to my mind she doesn’t quite get home over three miles, so the 2m5f trip around here should be right up her street. Off a handicap mark of just 142 she has every chance for a mare bordering on Grade One standard and I fancy she may be too good for the likes of the fresh Harbour Lake and Titan Discovery.

Later on at the Sunbury-on-Thames track, course specialist Flegmatik looks sure to go close in the two-and-a-half-mile Handicap Chase at 2.45, but I am worried about the forecast rains for the Skelton-trained gelding and he will probably need a career-best run in any case off his current mark. So the nod goes to LORD BADDESLEY.

He was a never nearer seventh of 12 in the Trophy Handicap Chase over three miles at the track last time out, but in the hope that they go a really good pace here I fancy the bottom weight to charge down the home stretch to good effect and land this nice prize for the very much in-form yard of Chris Gordon. Anything in the region of 10/1 would make him a massively solid each-way play.

RED DWARF looks ready to strike in the opening race on the all-weather at Wolverhampton (5.30), while the feature mile-and-a-half handicap at 7.30 should got to the classy INTINSO who we have yet to truly see the best of.

Later on, the very lightly raced TRIP TO ROME looks a very interesting proposition in the seven-furlong handicap at 8.00. The selection is set to have only the seventh run of his career and looks sure to benefit for the drop back to seven furlongs here after not really seeing out the mile at Lingfield Park last time out.