Maximum 18 runners to race in Midlands Grand National

The Midlands Grand National has been held annually at Uttoxeter since 1969

A strong field of 18 runners will compete for the £80,000 first prize in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Saturday.

Former Welsh Grand National winners Halcon Genelardais and Miko De Beauchene are among the favourites.

The winner of the 2008 Midlands Grand National, Himalayan Trail, will not run after failing to make the cut.

"This is the strongest field that we've had for many years," general manager David MacDonald told BBC Radio Stoke.

There are also several Irish horses involved, including Badgerlaw, which came second behind Himalayan Trail two years ago.

Clerk of the course Charlie Moore, who will be involved in his first Midlands Grand National since taking the role in January, hopes that Uttoxeter will continue to attract quality racing in the future.

"I've come into a racecourse that was being run well, and all the trainers speak highly of the job that Keith Ottersen did," he told BBC Radio Stoke.

"What I want to do is make sure that Uttoxeter maintains its current position and popularity.

"It's no good having good crowds here if they haven't got decent fields to watch."