Saturday each-way racing tip: Mighty Thunder can stay the distance in Musselburgh marathon
- Richard Hutchinson
- 4 February 2023
The Edinbugh National is a four-mile marathon, and Tipstrr racing expert Richard Hutchinson believes Mighty Thunder has the stamina to out-run his outsider odds in the race that he won two years ago.
14:03 (Musselburgh) Mighty Thunder
I just love staying handicaps, particularly over marathon trips, as it's a unique test, and not many horses are proven to excel - but it's great watching to find out!
Mighty Thunder most certainly is suited as he won the Scottish National over today's four-mile trip (off 144) and he also won this race in 2021 by a huge 20 lengths off 129.
He gets in here off 139, which is reduced to a net 132 by a decent seven-pound claimer for jockey Patrick Wadge, giving him an eight-pound advantage over the top-weight favourite, Slipway.
While Mighty Thunder has to bounce back from a period in the doldrums caused by a persistent wind problem that has required two operations, he has shown enough over hurdles to suggest a return to form is on the cards.
He last raced in early December in a three-mile hurdle and ran well enough before falling at the last.
He was outpaced in a slowly run race and I like the fact that connections ran him at the same Musselburgh meeting for his final start/prep before going on to win this race two years ago.
His current mark of 139 will not be enough to get him into the Grand National this year unless he wins this race, and that's a target that connections have aimed at before, but have been unlucky with his problems last year, so I'm sure he will be primed today.
Mighty Thunder will certainly be targeted to peak in this race which suits him so well, and he looks like a cracking bet at 33/1 or more, while a point each way still carries value at 16/1.
