Coral Welsh Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 2 | 2m 7f 131y | 8 Runners | Turf

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| DWS

Smart form when winning 2 novice chases at the end of 2022 but not seen since pulling up in the Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham in January 2023. Has had wind surgery. Betting perhaps the best guide to expectations given the length of absence.

Form: 1111FP/

Brave Kingdom^t²⁹⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 137| C

Looked good when winning first 2 chases last winter. Something presumably not right when well beaten in Grade 2 Reynoldstown at Ascot in February and very much the type to resume his progression this season.

Form: 131/11P-

Good Risk At All^t³⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 135| BF

Matched useful hurdles form at the first attempt over fences when winning a Carlisle novice last autumn. Beaten a long way in a 3m Cheltenham listed novice and 19.5f course handicap later in 2023 and not seen since. Yard's good form provides hope that he could bounce back. Check the betting.

Form: 670/134-

Regal Blue²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 131| D

Has found improvement over the larger obstacles, winning handicaps at Haydock and Uttoxeter in February/March. Never going on recent Bangor reappearance, though.

Form: 2P1P1-P

No Hubs No Hoobs^b,t⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Ben Jones| T: J Tizzard| OR: 124

Ended last season with a hat-trick of staying handicap chase wins on deep ground. His winning run came to a halt when only fourth on Wincanton reappearance at the end of October but he should come on for the outing.

Form: 25111-4

Imperial Alex¹⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: T Lacey| OR: 121| CD

Really found the winning habit in the spring, with the first leg of a hat-trick in the mud coming over C&D. Given a break since a lesser effort in the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter in June.

Form: 2211-19

Enjoy Your Life¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118| D

Won a pair of handicap chases around 3m last winter and reappeared with an encouraging second over 19.5f here 15 days ago. Much respected back up in trip for his very much in-form yard.

Form: 4413P-2

Sporting Ace^p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 117| CD

Stepped up on low-key chase debut when landing the C&D novice handicap on this card a year ago. Runner-up on 3 of his 4 subsequent starts and likely to be on the premises back at a venue which evidently suits.

Form: 71622-2

Non-Runners

Certainly Red²⁷

Weight: 12-0| Age: 10

T: Mrs L Richards J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Enjoy Your Life (3/1), Certainly Red (7/2), Sporting Ace (9/2), Good Risk At All (9/2), No Hubs No Hoobs (13/2), Brave Kingdom (8/1), Gelino Bello (8/1), Imperial Alex (10/1), Regal Blue (11/1)

BRAVE KINGDOM can't have been right on his final start of last season and can get his career firmly back on track on his return to action. Enjoy Your Life gained his 2 wins last season around 3m and can build on his good reappearance here over a shorter trip and provide the chief threat ahead of Sporting Ace, a winner on this card last year.