Weighty burden for Synchronised repeat bid

Last year’s winner Synchronised will have to defy top weight of 11st 12lb if he is to land back-to-back victories in the totesport.com Midlands Grand National Chase at Uttoxeter today.

The eight-year-old, trained by Jonjo O’Neill, is rated 16lb higher than when he held the gutsy mare L’Aventure by three quarters of a length in the four-mile-one-furlong heat 12 months ago.

He shouldered 11st 6lb that day in a race in which there was only one other finisher from the 18 runners that set out in very testing conditions.