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15:05 Newcastle

Saturday 2 December 2023

All11:3512:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:05

BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 7f 91y | 8 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Shishkin⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 173| BF

6/4

Brilliant chaser on his day, routing Pic d'Orhy in Ascot Chase in February and proved his stamina for 3m+ when landing the Bowl at Aintree in April. Blotted his copybook when refusing to race in first-time cheekpieces (discarded) at Ascot last weekend. Has to be treated with some caution after that.

Form: P/3121-R

Ga Law^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 152

6/1

Won last season's Paddy Power at Cheltenham and every chance when falling last in Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster in January. Found it hard at Grade 1 level on final 2 outings but his record in good handicap chases earns him a place on shortlist. Sharper for an outing over hurdles. Cheekpieces go on.

Form: 31F5P-6

Datsalrightgino³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: 2nd Preference| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 148

10/1

Ended a good novice chase campaign with a Grade 2 success over 20.5f at Ayr in April. Caught too far back in Old Roan at Aintree on reappearance and can do better now. This longer trip should be within range. First preference 2.50 Newbury.

Form: 422P1-8

Elvis Mail^t³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Bruce Lynn⁽³⁾| T: N W Alexander| OR: 146

6/1

Has registered smart performances when winning 3¼m handicap chases at Kelso (all wins there and Ayr) on his last 2 outings, making light of a 7-month absence when seeing off 5 rivals at the end of October. Effectively another 4 lb higher now.

Form: 633U1-1

Ciel De Neige^p⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 145

25/1

Smart chaser at his peak for Willie Mullins. Shaped quite well when sixth of 22 in Galway Plate on reappearance but failed to build on it when down the field in Kerry National at Listowel since. First outing for new yard. 2 lb out of weights.

Form: 5/07U-60

A Wave Of The Sea^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: B Haslam| OR: 144

12/1

Fourteen runs since last win in 2022 but did end his time with Joseph O'Brien with a creditable fourth of 12 in handicap chase at Limerick (3m, heavy) 6 weeks ago. 3 lb out of the handicap on first outing for Ben Haslam.

Form: P9-4404

Empire Steel³⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: A M Thomson| OR: 143| BF| D

9/2

Back to form when landing a 4-runner listed chase at Kelso (3m, good to soft) in March. Creditable 4¼ lengths third of 6 to Elvis Mail on 3¼m reappearance there, jumping boldly and racing with plenty of zest. Could go well with that under his belt.

Form: 2/7018-3

Bill Baxter²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: 2nd Preference| T: W Greatrex| OR: 141WS

10/1

Four wins as a first-season chaser, culminating with a game success in Topham at Aintree (21f, good to soft). Had a bit to find and made a satisfactory return to action when third of 4 in Carlisle listed chase last month. Back up in trip. Has had wind surgery. First preference 2.50 Newbury.

Form: 11F11-3

Forecasts

Shishkin (6/4), Empire Steel (9/2), Ga Law (6/1), Elvis Mail (6/1), Bill Baxter (10/1), Datsalrightgino (10/1), A Wave Of The Sea (12/1), Ciel De Neige (25/1)

A top-class sort at the head of the weights leaves more than half the field out of the handicap. GA LAW is one who can race off his correct mark and can leave his hurdle reappearance behind and add to his fine record in top handicap chases. There have to be doubts about Shishkin after he planted himself at the start at Ascot last weekend but he'll surely have a big say if setting off this time. The selection's stablemate Datsalrightgino will be a player if running here rather than Newbury.