bet365.com Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 14.20s

Applaus^p⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 118| CD

7/1

A Newcastle regular who landed some good bets when winning over hurdles here in February (2m), and ended the season with further success at Hexham. Pulled up on his chasing debut at Carlisle in October in a tough contest.

Form: 71241-P

Kauto Riko²⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 115

9/4

Has just about exhausted his options over hurdles with victories at Market Rasen (2m2f+) and Catterick (2m3f+) last season, hence the switch to chasing. Trainer a rare visitor to this track; 1 from 3 since 2009.

Form: 40/1123-

Barrys Jack¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: C O'Farrell| T: B Ellison| OR: 111| D

11/4

Notched the hat-trick despite having to work hard at Carlisle in late October (2m1f handicap hurdle), and hasn't found life easy back over fences since. However, this is less competitive than the Aintree contest he faced latest (2m4f heavy).

Form: 2111U4

Celtic Flames³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 109| D

85/40

Unbeaten over fences in two starts, with success in a Ballyarthur point (April 2015), and a 2m Hexham novices handicap latest. Raised 5lb for that victory, but chasing was always going to be his forte and that's not enough to thwart his progress.

Form: 23/4641

Where's Tiger⁵⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Blair Campbell⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 105| D

12/1

Connections look to have been forced down this route (chasing debut) as he is handicapped to the hilt (114) over hurdles. Below form when last seen (on the Flat) in May. Non-runner at Musselburgh on Monday.

Form: 1209/74-

Forecasts

Celtic Flames (85/40), Kauto Riko (9/4), Barrys Jack (11/4), Applaus (7/1), Where's Tiger (12/1)

Worcestershire based trainer Tom Gretton is a rare visitor to Newcastle, so it is noteworthy that he has booked the North's leading rider Brian Hughes for the chasing debut of Kauto Riko, whilst both Applaus and Barry's Jack face slightly easier assignments than in their most recent races. However, CELTIC FLAMES has always looked likely to come good when switched to fences and he was a decisive scorer in deep ground on his rules chasing debut at Hexham last month, and a subsequent 5lb rise in the weights doesn't appear enough to thwart his progress.