Guetapan Collonges may be one of the favourites for Saturday’s Midlands Grand National – but Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon is worried that the race may come too early in his career.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old has won four of his eight starts over fences and will be reunited with Jonjo O’Neill Jr, who steered him to victory at Warwick in November.

Subsequently a fine fourth to Iwilldoit in the Classic Chase at that same track over a testing three miles and five furlongs, he bounced back to winning ways under Brian Hughes at Uttoxeter last month.

Four and a quarter miles in likely soft ground will be a step into the unknown for both himself and many of his rivals, but Longsdon feels he should cope.

"He is still an improving horse and you’d think this type of race would suit him," he said.

"It is in the back of my mind that in a year’s time he might be better, because he would be a bigger, stronger horse. He is still quite a weak horse.

"I know he is at the top of the market, but he has still got to reverse form with the likes of Iwilldoit."

Having already won a Welsh Grand National and a Classic Chase, the Sam Thomas-trained Iwilldoit must carry the burden of 12st, whereas Guetapan Collonges has a more attractive weight of 10st 5lb.

Longsdon added: "He has a nice weight and he is certainly the type who will do well in races in the future.

"He ran lovely and learned a lot at Warwick. This is another step up and it will be soft ground, which he will like.

"He has still got to stay four miles and two (furlongs), which will be tough for anyone.

"The horse is improving and he will be a nicer horse next year. I hope he could be a Grand National horse in the future – he certainly looks that kind of horse."