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STAYING is the name of the game this afternoon with the Eider Chase over an extended four miles and a furlong at Newcastle and the Kempton Handicap Chase over a speedier three miles.

The last named has a bundle of pace up top in a disappointing field of just 13 runners headed by last year’s winner, Kotate Dori, who is set to run off an 11lbs higher mark. Connections will be hoping for some more rain to enhance his chance here and there are a couple I much prefer at the weights that are unexposed over the distance.

LOOKAWAY (3.35) has his first run at the distance this afternoon and after only four starts over fences, he looks sure to be a massive player from the front of the pack. I have already backed Kempton specialist SOUL ICON, having only his third start at three miles. Only a couple of lengths off The Doyen Chief over the course and distance last time out, the selection is a massive eight pounds better off at the weights and still looks solid each-way value, having been nibbled at in the market place this week. 

Of the remainder you could readily forgive Deep Cave for his recent run in the Great Yorkshire Chase at Doncaster when they simply did not go quickly enough for him and he may be better going right-handed, while Hoe Joly Smoke will be well-suited to the end to end gallop likely here if Harry Skelton can get him jumping nicely in the first half of the race.

After a really promising third in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow, ROYAL INFANTRY (1.10) has been relatively disappointing in three subsequent contests, one of fences when he struggled to get into any rhythm at all. Set to run off a mark only 2lbs higher than at the Welsh venue and back on decent ground, the seven-year-old looks the each-way call over the hat-trick seeking and progressive Hold The Serve at the foot of the weights.

Later on, the four-year-olds come to town for the Adonis Hurdle with a last gasp chance to make a claim in the Triumph Hurdle field at the Cheltenham Festival and the Nicky Henderson trained FANTASY WORLD (1.45) looks a fascinating player. This will be only his second timber topping start, just six days since running down the field at Musselburgh when you could argue that the son of Make Believe ran a little bit too freely through the first half of the contest. He can make the most of the weight he is set to receive from the likes of One Horse Town and the hugely promising Precious Man.

In what appears a below par looking Pendil Novices’ Chase, Go West looks sure to go well, but Paul Nicholls will surely be hoping that the ground dries out a wee bit, a point which makes me turn my back on the eight-year-old and instead plump for the complete outsider OLD COWBOY (2.25). The Gary and Josh Moore trained six-year-old has always been held in high esteem by his handlers and was hugely impressive when winning at Newbury two outings back off a handicap mark of 118. Last time out, the selection looked set to play a part in the finish until taking a tumble at the second last in a race won by Lookaway, who of course runs in the feature handicap chase this afternoon.

Jax Junior looks sure to go off favourite here after wind surgery worked a treat with a fluent success at Sandown Park last time out. A course and distance winner from the enigmatic Jeriko Du Reponet in November, he too remains a work in progress over fences in what will be just his fifth start over the larger obstacles and is the chief danger to the tip.

Over at Newcastle, Mr Vango’s entry has made the weights look lop sided in the Eider Handicap Chase at 2.43. His participation is dependent on the ground not drying out too much. If it does then the stamina sapping event takes on a whole new shape.

Lumping 12 stone around four miles and an extended furlong may even be beyond his level and whether he runs or not, I think that the former Welsh National winner VAL DANCER is too big at a double figure price.

The selection ran a cracking third behind Mr Vango in the Becher Chase earlier this season at Aintree, when he was beaten three-and-three-quarter lengths by the winner. He now finds himself a mammoth 17lbs better off at the weights and although he too needs the ground to remain on the soft side, those terms make him a massively solid each-way play. 

Of the remaining runners in this lung bursting affair a quicker surface should help last year’s runaway winner Knockanore, but he is some eight pounds higher here and of greater interest could well be Fortunate Man, who will not mind what the weather does and should relish the step back up in trip over the longest distance of ground he has ever run over in this career.

As far as the rest of the card is concerned at the Gosforth Park venue, I shall also bee having a solid play on SARACEN BEAU (3.20) and UNLEASH THE BEAST (1.35).

The last named is bred to absolutely adore the extra yardage here and if Jonathan Burke can get him jumping nicely in midfield then the pair should be very hard to beat even off his welter burden, while the first named is very lightly raced and has always been held in high regard by the very shrewd Nicky Richards.