HIGH OF THE TIGER
Fenland won’t duck the challenge in Eider Chase
FENLAND TIGER is fancied to net the biggest prize of his going-places career by beating 12 opponents for the Betting.Bet Eider Handicap Chase (2.08) at Newcastle this afternoon.
Sam England’s son of Schiaparelli followed an upward curve over hurdles last season by continuing in a similar vein over fences this term.
Having scored by a head in a novices’ handicap chase at Carlisle in October on his debut over the larger obstacles, Fenland Tiger finished third to today’s rival Anglers Crag in a similar race for all-comers back in Cumbria eight days before Christmas.
But my selection was back in business in a novice handicap at Doncaster in January before matching his timber tally with a half-length call from Prince Des Fichaux in open company at Gosforth Park at the end of last month.
The pair motored a yawning 21 lengths clear of the third horse, so a 6lb rise in the handicap was to be expected.
Fenland Tiger does have to prove his stamina over this marathon four miles and a furlong but gives the impression he can keep going when others have put their tools away, and heavy ground is of no concern. At Kempton, Paul Nicholls (below) is fancied for a Grade 2 double, with KALIF DU BERLAIS getting the Ditcheat ball rolling in the Coral Adonis Hurdle (1.50).
The French native marked his first start in Britain with a seven-and-a-half-length supremacy in a juvenile hurdle over course and distance six weeks ago – and there is plenty more where that came from.
Nicholls and Harry Cobden are taken to complete the brace with last year’s Tolworth Hurdle hero TAHMURAS in the Coral Pendil Novices’ Chase (2.27), while the 14-time champion trainer’s former stable jockey Sam Thomas should be on the mark with LUMP SUM in the Coral Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (3.00). Nicky Henderson’s PENTLAND HILLS is by no means harshly treated, despite having to shoulder top weight in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (1.15).
Southwell is the new host of the Group 3 BetUK Winter Derby (3.20), for which MILITARY ORDER gets the vote after a head second to Enemy over course and distance.
The Listed BetUK Hever Sprint Stakes (2.45) is a good chance for CLARENDON HOUSE to regain winning form after a fourth at Meydan 29 days ago.