Isaac Des Obeaux wins Midlands Grand National

Jockey Sam Twiston-Davies and trainer Paul Nicholls joined forces yet again to win the Midlands Grand National with Isaac Des Obeaux.

Twiston-Davies was Nicholls' lead rider for four years, between 2014 and 2018, before being replaced by Harry Cobden.

Cobden's decision to become JP McManus' retained rider has opened up the chance for Twiston-Davies and Nicholls to collaborate again - and the partnership proved successful in Saturday's featured race at Uttoxeter.

Isaac Des Obeaux, a 28-1 shot who is part owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, overhauled long-time leader Rock My Way late on and surged clear to win by eight lengths.

"It took a little chivvying along to get going but Harry [Cobden] kind of warned me about that so I was well ready for it," Twiston-Davies told ITV.

"So I got him through the gears into an all right kind of slot and thankfully it hasn't wasted energy and jumped well.

"I'd watched the horse [before] but never had anything to do with him so I was just doing what I was told, which is quite nice."

Rock My Way (18-1) held off Git Maker on the line to finish second, well clear of the only other finishers - Grand Albert, fourth at 14-1, and Bodhisattva in fifth.

Pre-race favourite J'arrive De L'est was one of 16 horses pulled up on soft going over the taxing four-and-a-quarter-mile course.