15:20 Newcastle

Saturday 2 December 2017

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1014:4515:20

At The Races Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Listed)

Off time: 15:23 | Winning time: 6m 17.56s

Yala Enki²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 150| D

3/1

Mud-lark who landed the 2016 Tommy Whittle Chase (2m7f soft) at Haydock in December, prior to later season success up at Kelso (3m2f heavy). 4lb above his last winning mark, but his run in the Badger Ales Trophy last month should see him sharper.

Form: 31441-P

Wakanda³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 147| CD

7/1

Winner of this race in 2015 (2lb higher today), and backed up that success in a Listed contest at Ascot the following month. His progress slowed thereafter; fifth in this in 2016, but his Kelso reappearance behind As De Mee was much more like it.

Form: 752P3-2

Our Kaempfer^t²³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 146

8/1

Hasn't totally convinced over fences, but posted a demolition job at Kempton in January when beating Kruzhlinin by 7L (3m good to soft). Not really fair to judge him in better races since, but remains 8lb above his last winning mark.

Form: 23U1PP-

Beware The Bear²²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| BF| D

7/2

Progressive as a novice this time last year, winning his first two starts over fences at Ascot and Newbury. Faced stiffer tasks thereafter, including at the Cheltenham Festival (NH Chase), but largely unexposed, and a second season chaser to note.

Form: 1/11174-

Bishops Road²³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 144

9/2

Failed to complete in the Grand National (pulled up), but had previously got to within 3½L of 2016 Rehearsal winner Otago Trail when pulverised by Bristol De Mai in the Peter Marsh at Haydock in January (3m soft). Trainer excels in stayers events.

Form: UF/403P-

Dedigout^t²²⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-2| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 140

25/1

A formerly smart Grade 2 winning hurdler and a two time winner over fences from ten starts. However, he burst blood vessels in the Irish Grand National in April (for Gordon Elliott), and he looks out of his depth here on debut for an in-form stable.

Form: 45554P-

Sam Red^t⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 137| D

6/1

Made progress over hurdles earlier this year when switched from Ireland, but has begun to excel over fences in lesser events and arrives on a hat-trick after strong staying performances at Stratford and Fakenham (form franked). Toughest test by far.

Form: 426-311

Boric^p³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Callum Bewley⁽³⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 126| C

10/1

A stout stayer who has earned a try in this grade after a progressive spell. A gritty success in the 3m6f Highlands National in April has been bettered at both Carlisle and in the Durham National latest. Up another 3lb, but tough as teak.

Form: P181-22

Forecasts

Yala Enki (3/1), Beware The Bear (7/2), Bishops Road (9/2), Sam Red (6/1), Wakanda (7/1), Our Kaempfer (8/1), Boric (10/1), Dedigout (25/1)

A small but very select field for the 2017 Rehearsal Chase, and with eight runners in the line up, the each-way 1-2-3 angle remains just about in place. Venetia Williams took this race last year with Otago Trail (Bishops Road fourth and WAKANDA fifth), and she is represented by the mud-lark Yala Enki. He should relish this test of stamina, and be stronger for his return in the Badger Ales Trophy (pulled up) at Wincanton last month, but his current mark of 150 looks a fraction too high. Beware The Bear is perhaps the least exposed runner in the race, and this lightly raced second season chaser could be the horse to fear most from a fair mark, whilst the upped in grade 'bullet-proof' Boric won't go down without a fight. However, it is the 2015 winner Wakanda who is the selection. He predictably struggled last term when in the grip of the handicapper, but he's much better treated now, has conditions firmly in his favour, and posted a pleasing return to action when beaten 7L by As De Mee at Kelso in late October.