15:35 Newcastle: Timeform preview and free Race Pass

The most valuable contest on Newcastle’s jumping card is a handicap chase over just short of three miles (15:35) with a field of nine declared.

This can go to Lucinda Russell’s runner Readysteadybeau (137) who made it three wins from his last four completed starts over fences at Ayr last month. Having unseated at Wetherby the time before, Readysteadybeau jumped much better at Ayr with positive tactics applied and kept on well after asserting between the final two fences. He makes plenty of appeal again from a 7 lb higher mark.

The obvious danger is Sam England’s progressive Fenland Tiger (134p). He ran up a hat-trick over hurdles last term and is continuing to go the right way over fences this season, winning a novices’ handicap on his chasing debut at Carlisle in October and successful again in a similar event at Doncaster last month where he jumped well on the way to beating Betterforeveryone by three and a half lengths, earning the ‘Horse In Focus’ flag. It’s likely there’s more to come from him.

The lightly-raced Brayhill (136) is another in-form sort for James Ewart who made light of a year’s absence when returning after another breathing operation to beat Ladronne by a length and a quarter at this track just before Christmas. That was over two and a half miles, but he has won over this sort of trip and, while clearly not the easiest to train, he’s one to consider.

Top weight Marown (135) hasn’t won for nearly three years but has returned in good form this season, finishing second in both his starts at Ayr. He was six and a half lengths behind Readysteadybeau on his reappearance and then went down by a neck to Up Helly Aa King early this month.

The market may be the best guide to Mint Condition’s (135?) chances as he returns from a lengthy absence having missed all of last season. The winner of a novices’ handicap at Haydock for Jennie Candlish in 2021/22, he’s now with Charlie Longsdon.

Enqarde (132) returned from another breathing operation to capitalise on a drop in the weights at Warwick on his reappearance in November but wasn’t in the same form at Haydock last time in the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase (a race he’d won in 2021) and is now tried in headgear (cheekpieces) for the first time.

Captain Quint (133) won twice last season but ended the campaign out of sorts, finishing a remote second to Readysteadybeau at Perth, and made a similarly lacklustre return at Carlisle in October.

The pair at the bottom of the weights have a bit to prove, neither yet to fire in their first seasons for new yards. Five-year-old Jar du Desert (?) won on his chasing debut at Auteuil last May but hasn’t seen out either of his races back in Britain and is up in trip here, while Prince des Fichaux (127) was beaten a long way at Carlisle last time.

Timeform analyst’s verdict

Readysteadybeau looked well served by the return to positive tactics (notably jumped better) when running out a convincing winner at Ayr last month and a 7 lb rise may not be enough to prevent a bold follow-up bid. Fenland Tiger continues to improve and he's feared, with Brayhill and Marown other in-form sorts to consider.

Timeform weight-adjusted ratings

137 Readysteadybeau

136 Brayhill

135 Marown

135? Mint Condition

134p Fenland Tiger

133 Captain Quint

132 Enqarde

127 Prince des Fichaux

? Jar du Desert

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