Midlands Grand National Saturday 15th March Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:42 | Winning time: 7m 18.69s

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Selected odds by:

Atlanta Brave^p²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 122

2/1

Irish point winner who scored twice over hurdles in January 2023. Initially took well to fences last term and while he hasn't been at his best in 3 runs so far this season, it would be no surprise to see him get back on track now eased in class.

Form: 226-P48

Party Business^p⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 12-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122

11/1

Seemingly not the force of old and was pulled up over hurdles at Sandown last time.

Form: 5P773P

Wal Buck's²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 114| D

85/40

Encouraging signs over hurdles and is improving with each run over fences, cosily accounting for 5 rivals in a 25.6f Haydock handicap last time. 7 lb rise not the end of the world and probably has more to offer in this sphere.

Form: 43-6321

Gold Emery⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 110

15/2

Point/hurdles winner who has shown fair form over fences without winning, not least when runner-up over a marathon trip at Haydock last spring. Probably needed the run when well adrift of Wal Buck's (second) and Good Work (third) on return at at Wetherby. Not discounted.

Form: 52P23-7

Accidental Legend^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien| OR: 110| C

7/1

Fair hurdler who boasts a fine record here, adding a third course success to his tally over 23f last spring. Conversely, he didn't look at all comfortable on his first attempt over fences (again here) on New Year's Eve and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 2221-6P

Good Work^p,t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: William Shanahan⁽⁵⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 108

7/1

Good second here on final start of last season and, save for a low-key reappearance display, he hasn't done a great deal wrong this time round. Still, he was behind Wal Buck's at Wetherby and Haydock last month, and record now stands at 0-24 over fences.

Form: 42-P332

Non-Runners

Imaginary Dragon²³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 7

T: A M Thomson J: Ryan Mania

Getaway Theatre²⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: S Edmunds J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Atlanta Brave (2/1), Wal Buck's (85/40), Imaginary Dragon (5/1), Good Work (7/1), Accidental Legend (7/1), Gold Emery (15/2), Party Business (11/1), Getaway Theatre (16/1)

This drop in class could be just the tonic for ATLANTA BRAVE, who hasn't fired on all cylinders in a handful of appearances since returning to action in October but he has slipped to an attractive mark as a consequence. It wasn't a particulalry strong race in which Wal Buck's opened his chase account at Haydock but he is broadly progressive and is a much-respected main danger. Imaginary Dragon is just about third choice ahead of Gold Emery.