Midlands Grand National: Goulanes wins at Uttoxeter

David Pipe claimed a fourth successive Midlands Grand National title as 13-2 favourite Goulanes won at Uttoxeter.

Pipe trained Minella Fourstar, Master Overseer and Big Occasion to victory in the previous three years.

Goulanes stayed on stronger than Alpha Victor while West End Rocker, who had made a bold bid from the front, hung on for third with Summery Justice fourth.

Jockey Richard Johnson said: "He was good and jumped well bar the third last. It's been a great week."

Johnson, who won two races at the Cheltenham Festival, was on board in place of Tom Scudamore, who was switched to Kempton at the last minute.

"They went a really hard gallop early on, the ground is drying but it's tacky and hard work," Johnson continued.

"Tom Scudamore said to humour him a bit but he jumped the last well.

"He's a bit of a character but he's got ability. When he got to the front, he was looking at everything."

Owner Roger Brookhouse, who won the Arkle at Cheltenham with the Pipe-trained Western Warhorse, added: "The ground was drying up at Cheltenham so we decided to come here.

"As long as it was soft enough we thought he had a good chance."