Lee’s mudlark Mountainous set to peak in Eider at Newcastle

MOUNTAINOUS is ready to scale the heights in the Betfred Eider Handicap Chase (2.45).

Kerry Lee’s 12-year-old loves nothing more than a searching stamina test, so four miles and half a furlong in the mud at Newcastle should prove right up his street.

Mountainous struggled for form after landing the second Welsh Grand National of his career in January of last year.

But his second to stable-companion Goodtoknow at Hereford this month, when ridden by today’s jockey Richard Patrick, was much more like it.

Mountainous competes from a handicap mark of 133 – just 1lb higher than when victorious at Chepstow last winter. And, with staying power at a premium, he looks well capable of showing the juniors the way home.

On Kempton’s BetBright Chase undercard, ELGIN gets the call in the Grade 2 Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.00).

Having begun his career over obstacles with scores at Newcastle and Kempton, Alan King’s five-year-old had his sights raised for the Grade 2 Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock last time.

That assignment involved conceding 3lb to Neon Wolf and, although my selection wasn’t up to it – he finished a nine-length second – the Harry Skelton-trained winner looks very smart.

Prominent in the lists for both the Triumph Hurdle and Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, CHARLI PARCS should warm up for the Festival by winning the Grade 2 BetBright Genius Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (1.50).

Nicky Henderson’s French import impressed with an eight-length call over this course and distance on his British debut 60 days ago and there is plenty more where that came from.

The Grade 2 BetBright Pendil Novices’ Chase (2.25) looks best left to the Paul Nicholls-trained FRODON, who landed his fifth victory over the larger obstacles when justifying cramped odds at Musselburgh at the start of the month.

At Lingfield, William Haggas’ MUTAKAYYEF has the edge over nine rivals for the Group 3 Betway Winter Derby (3.15).

Earlier on the card, LANCELOT DU LAC is taken to stay ahead of old rival Pretend in the Listed Betway Hever Sprint Stakes (2.05).