Newcastle

The ground turned soft for the marathon Betfred Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle on Saturday and sheer stamina was at a premium. In the end it was last year’s fourth Mysteree, 10/1, who saw it out best in the hands of Robbie Dunne, who is making quite a name for himself in this type of event.

The 6/1 favourite, Shotgun Paddy, who faced a huge task under 11st 10lb, gave way to Stradinahanna after an early blunder but Mysteree, always prominent, was in a position to kick on from five out. Staying on stoutly, he was four lengths too good for the persistent Knockanrawley with Shotgun Paddy keeping on like a hero in third and Harry The Viking rewarding each-way backers in fourth.

“He’s another year older and stronger,” said winning trainer Michael Scudamore, who celebrated his 33rd birthday 24 hours earlier at Exeter, where Kingswell Theatre won the Devon National to set up a superb staying double.

“It was a nice performance at Haydock on his penultimate start and Robbie has given him a fine ride. We’ll look at the Scottish National but much depends on the ground.”

Lingfield

At Lingfield, the Group 3 Betfred Winter Derby produced a tremendous finish as Sir Michael Stoute’s Convey, absent since October, came with a strong late run under Andrea Atzeni to get up and beat long-time leader Pinzolo by a neck with Absolute Blast, who led briefly inside the final furlong, a head away followed by Zhui Feng and Grendisar, both right behind.

With ante-post favourite Mutakayyef missing through injury and 7/4 favourite Battalion completely missing the kick, things were made easier for the 11/2 winner but this was still a fine effort over a longer trip and Atzeni believes he will progress through the summer.

Aaron Jones had to sit and suffer on Stuart Williams’ Royal Birth, 8/1, in the Listed Betfred Hever Sprint as course specialist Lancelot Du Lac and Verne Castle fought it out but finally he squeezed between horses to get up by half a length. Favourite backers stayed loyal to Godolphin’s Pretend after his short-priced reverse last time. They burned their fingers again as he could finish only fifth at 5/4.

Happy Camping

CAMPING Ground romped to a 29-length win in the Grade 2 totepool National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell last Sunday. In his first run for Gary Moore, he was sent off at 9/1 under Josh Moore. He was formerly trained by Robert Walford, for whom he won the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham last January, before he was well-beaten by Annie Power at Cheltenham and Aintree. Never in danger, he beat Le Rocher and the favourite L’Ami Serge (2/1) by 29 and 22 lengths on ground classified good-to-soft. Moore later hinted he would miss the festival and wait for Aintree.

Crawford winner

THERE was an Irish-trained winner at Ayr on Monday when the Stewart Crawford-trained Verona Opera (7/2) ran out a nine-length winner of the two-mile, novices hurdle, ridden by Brian Hughes. Crawford was out of luck with his other three runners on the card: Gilt Shadow, Baby Bach and Billy Billy.