The big meetings are about to come up thick and fast over jumps as spring approaches, but there are still one or two big winter features to come and among them is the Eider Handicap Chase, run over a marathon trip at Newcastle on Saturday.
This is always one of the more competitive handicaps run all season and it often turns into a dour test of stamina, so it should pay to stick with those who stay well.
There is an interesting undercard featuring good betting opportunities among the supporting races and Clive Gildon is back with his best wagers of the afternoon at Gosforth Park.
2.10 - Eider Handicap Chase (4m1½f)
The big event on the day can go to CHOOSETHENEWS, who looks to be better than ever this season and has a good record at this course. He might be capable of enhancing that again in this event.
Choosethenews won over 2m4f at this track in April and was no stronger than at the finish that day. It was only in the closing stages that he got up to beat the useful Pay The Piper at that distance.
He went up in trip at Carlisle in December and failed to shine, but maybe that track wasn’t to his liking and he bounced back when reverting to this venue last time. He kept on strongly for second, after becoming outpaced at a crucial stage, and was gaining on the winner right to the finish line.
That was over 2m7½f, but he shaped like he would definitely improve for a stiffer test of stamina and there could be plenty of improvement to come now that he tries an extreme trip for the first time.
The best alternative to Choosethenews might be the one who finished immediately behind him at this course last time, Lord Roco. He has an equally impressive record at Newcastle, having recorded a win, a second and a third from just three starts at the track, and he is also unexposed at this distance.
That was the second time in as many starts that Lord Roco has run well this season and William Maggs is on board this time claiming 5lb. He replaces Ryan Mania in the saddle and has a chance of reversing the places with Choosethenews on these terms, provided he stays the extra distance here.
SELECTION: CHOOSETHENEWS
NEXT BEST: LORD ROCO
3.55 - Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)
This looks like a good opportunity for the topweight HORN CAPE to bounce back from a disappointing run at Kelso last time. He likes this track much better and has a huge chance.
Horn Cape is a three-time course-and-distance winner and finished second on his only other start at the track, so we know that he doesn’t run a bad race here, and the return to this venue will suit.
If you forgive his last run at Kelso he has a progressive profile, too. He had improved his Racing Post Rating with each of his previous four starts and that includes when second at Hexham last May.
He was returning for his first run since that effort when well held at Kelso last time and maybe he was in need of that first run for so long. There is every chance that he can bounce back this time, especially as this will probably have been the target. He was successful in the same race last year.
SELECTION: HORN CAPE
