12.35pm Newcastle Tips & Betting Preview 17/12/2016

Just the four go to post for this Class 3 chase over 2m7f at Newcastle today worth £6,330 to the winner. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Derrintogher Bliss made a pleasing comeback at Bangor recently after over a year off and will no doubt come on for that run here. He will probably try to steal a march on his rival given the weight he receives and a big run is expected but BATTLE OF SHILOH looks to be the one here. Tom George has his team in fine fettle at the moment and he can add to his four successes already despite his hike in the weights. He is a scopey individual being a son of Shantou and can carry on his progression up the handicap ranks by winning this. He should be tough to beat.

1 Final Nudge – Won three times in Class 4 events last term over hurdles up to 2m5f on Heavy ground. Returned from an eight month lay-off on chasing debut and looked better than ever to get up to win by a neck at Fakenham (Soft) over 3m. Carries top weight for those exploits and might just find one too good today.

2 Battle Of Shiloh – Upped in grade on each of his first three starts and a winner each time, including at Ludlow (Heavy) on debut and then twice at Uttoxeter (Good/Soft & Soft). Has won four in a row now including two in Points up to 3m so will handle this trip. Still looks to be progressing and on a workable mark and he has ample time to get over his races. Can jump a bit lazily at one or two fences but that should be ironed out here and he will be tough to beat despite the 10lb rise. Yard in fine form.

3 Derrintogher Bliss – Won a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Huntingdon (Soft) last year in comfortable fashion by 10 lengths and followed up two starts later at Newcastle, getting up to win by half a length when the well-backed favourite in a Class 3 at Newcastle (Good/Soft). Finished a good two-length second to I Am Colin off the back of a 14 month lay-off at Bangor (Soft) last month emptying out at the business end of the race. Drop in trip will help here and has a handy 6lb pull with Battle of Shiloh. Definite player.

4 Hainan – Has won a couple of times over hurdles for Sue Smith including at Catterick (Good/Soft) in February, staying on well to score by 4 ½ lengths in a Class 3 handicap. Hasn’t really matched that form in two chases this season and probably needs two of the others misfire in order to get into the money today. Yard in good form however.