Racecards
12:30 Newcastle
S V Rutter Novices' Chase (Class 4)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 75y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £7,000 added
- Winner: £4,549
- 2nd: £1,336
- 3rd: £668
- 4th: £334
- Form P36-U12
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer B Ellison
- Jockey B S Hughes
in rear and tracked leaders in 3rd, went 2nd from halfway, led 3 out, soon clear, easily
- Form 220/224
- Age 8
- Weight 11-0
- Official Rating 129
- Trainer N G Richards
- Jockey Craig Nichol
led, headed 3 out, soon beaten
- Form 747-139
- Age 6
- Weight 11-0
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
tracked leader until halfway, weakened from 3 out
In depth
Verdict
There are only three runners in this but it still looks tricky. Forest Bihan was second over course and distance after winning at Towcester but has a penalty to carry. He unseated his rider over hurdles at the last at Market Rasen in October in a race won by L’AIGLE ROYAL so it may be worth taking a chance that the Skelton entry takes to fences, though he probably needs further. Chidswell has yet to convince over fences but should now be approaching peak fitness.
Formwatch
Forest Bihan (FR) 7-2 (11-5) Raced keenly, tracked leading pair, went 2nd between last two, ridden and kept on same pace run-in, 2nd of 6, 2 1/4l behind Waiting Patiently (11-5) at Newcastle 2m (3) sft in Dec.
Chidswell (IRE) 15-8 (11-2) Tracked leaders, mistake and lost place 5th, weakened before 3 out, 4th of 5, 23l behind Pistol Park (10-9) at Newcastle 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.
L'aigle Royal (GER) 25-1 (11-0) Held up towards rear, some headway on outside after 2 out, weakened before last, 9th of 12, 27 3/4l behind Call To Order (10-4) at Cheltenham 3m hcp (2) gd in Dec.