13.07 Newcastle 

This is a wide-open handicap in which I’ll be taking a chance on DERRICK D’ANJOU (best price 22-1) who might represent a bit of each-way value with Aaron Anderson claiming a valuable five-pounds. 

The ten-year-old had previously split two horses rated 100 plus when runner-up back in December over fences prior to his unseat and will face opponents rated no higher than 98 here. Since the turn of year, he’s practically been running on the flat at this course, where he’s reached the frame all three times, including when second in February before making his seasonal debut over hurdles a couple of weeks ago. He shaped well for a long way last time and the handicapper has taken a lenient view of that display, dropping his mark four-pounds to help matters. He’ll find this ease in grade to his liking and, having already established his credentials at a higher level than this during his career, this Gelding by Double Eclipse could easily exceed market expectations and, therefore, makes most appeal at the double-figure digits with four places widely available. 

Derrick D’Anjou  - 0.5pts e/w @ 22/1

15.07 Newcastle 

The market looks to have underestimated the chances of a course-specialist here in the shape of IIAYA (best price 8-1), who has the capabilities to play a leading role in a bid to make it course win number three in this pretty average heat. 

This mare, trained by Micky Hammond, is another course-and-distance winner, who’s five-pound below her last winning mark and wasn’t far behind the smart Pay The Piper here on her penultimate outing, and the latter boosted the form with a big effort in a listed chase event since. This mare returned a dual course-and-distance winner in 2019/20 and has form figures of 113 at this venue. All of her performances over the last twelve months have been in class-three events so she’ll appreciate the ease in grade, coupled with being five-pound below her last winning mark, too. She has plenty in her favour in her bid to make it three course-and-distance victories on return to her favourite hunting ground under Becky Smith. 

Ilaya   - 0.5pts e/w @ 8/1