Pre Christmas meeting at Newcastle with Eden Mill

Newcastle 23rd December : 2.15 pm 2m 4½f 0-115 handicap hurdle (Class 4)

Eden Mill takes a step up in class here after his comfortable win at Kelso at the end of November. He's up 7lb for that and this is a more competitive affair.....
His best from has come with plenty of give in the ground, so the advance report of good may not be to his advantage.

He (and no doubt the rest of the field) looks have most to fear from Tom Lacey's Montregard who possesses a Timeform P for this race, as befits a horse who is very lightly raced, won last time out, first time in a handicap thrown in on OR105 (probably....).

Having said that, if the 5yr-old Singapore Trip were to return to the form of just a year ago which saw him excel in Auteuil hurdles, he would take some beating (at generous odds). He has his second outing for Micky H in this race.
Another at the top of the handicap with winning French form is Kitesurfer from Jamie Snowden's yard so maybe Montregard will not have things his own way.

But all things considered, Montregard looks like the one to beat.

Craig Nichol rides for TD9 racing, and good luck to all.

Eden Mill leads Nights In Venice