14:08 Newcastle

Saturday 24 February 2024

All13:0513:3814:0814:5015:2716:0016:35

Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:08 | Winning time: 9m 8.50s

The Galloping Bear^b,t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽⁵⁾| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 140

17/2

Useful staying chaser who was a good second in this last year off same mark. Well held all 3 starts since but no surprise if he bounced back.

Form: 3F2P-P8

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Tommie Beau⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 136

18/1

Dual chase winner in the summer and better than ever when enhancing his good strike rate at Sedgefield (Durham National) and Fontwell (Southern National). Good second off revised mark at Plumpton (Sussex National) since and should be in the mix again.

Form: 424112

Major Dundee^v⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 132

14/1

Limited to just 3 starts last season but looked better than ever when landing the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (34f, soft) in March. Creditable third at Warwick on reappearance but questions to answer now after 2 poor efforts subsequently.

Form: 031-35P

Cruz Control^t⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: T Lacey| OR: 130| BF| C

5/1

Fairly useful bumper/hurdles winner who opened his account over fences here (20f) in November. Has found just one too strong at Doncaster on both subsequent starts but stamina to prove stepped up markedly in trip here.

Form: 4-25122

Christopher Wood²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 128

12/1

Useful winning hurdler but not quite as good in this sphere. However, did prove his stamina for a marathon trip when third in Edinburgh National at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago.

Form: 0/224-33

Anglers Crag²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 126

11/2

Made a winning hurdles debut for David Pipe but form was patchy sent chasing in 2022/23. However, following a wind op he has improved for his current yard this season, completing hat-trick in emphatic fashion at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago. Likely to stay and leading contender.

Form: 337-111

Flower Of Scotland¹¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: A M Thomson| OR: 120

6/1

Winner of the Borders National at Kelso last season before good third in Edinburgh National at Musselburgh. Looked rusty at Carlisle on return and better expected now with trip/ground not an issue.

Form: 4/3133-P

Fenland Tiger²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonathan England| T: S England| OR: 120| C

4/1

Progressive handicap hurdler and similar story over larger obstacles, making it 3 wins from 4 starts with a career-best display here (23.4f) last month. Likely to stay and unlikely he's reached his limit yet, so is one to consider again.

Form: 14-1311

Gold Clermont²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 115

11/1

Enhanced a good strike-rate over fences for her current yard with a career-best win at Fontwell (27.7f) 4 weeks ago. Handles the mud well so not taken lightly off light weight.

Form: 62-3181

Rath An Iuir^v³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 115| C

18/1

Back to form when winning amateur jockeys' handicap at Kelso for the second successive season in December. Had a hard race that day, however, and ran no sort of race at Catterick since. Others more likely (remote fifth in this last year).

Form: 538-815

Easy Bucks¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: William Maggs⁽⁷⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 112

66/1

Better than ever returning from 15 months off when making a winning debut for John Joseph Hanlon at Punchestown but poor effort back with this yard at Market Rasen 18 days ago. 2 lb out of handicap.

Form: 2133-17

Prince Des Fichaux^b²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 110

11/1

Took well to fences last term, landing 10-runner handicap chase at Ffos Las (25.3f, good to soft) in April (final start for Sam Thomas). Back to form on fourth start for this yard when second here (23.4f) last month but up it against it here from 4 lb out of the handicap.

Form: 31-5462

Non-Runners

Sidi Ismael¹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Fenland Tiger (4/1), Cruz Control (5/1), Anglers Crag (11/2), Flower Of Scotland (6/1), The Galloping Bear (17/2), Prince Des Fichaux (11/1), Gold Clermont (11/1), Christopher Wood (12/1), Major Dundee (14/1), Tommie Beau (18/1), Rath An Iuir (18/1), Sidi Ismael (33/1), Easy Bucks (66/1)

ANGLERS CRAG made it 3 from 3 for this yard in emphatic fashion at Musselburgh 3 weeks ago and remains of strong interest with this longer trip unlikely to be an issue. The progressive Fenland Tiger rates the main threat, with Gold Clermont and Tommie Beau also respected.