Bar Worth One More Chance In Eider

Well, Say My Name was a bitter disappointment earlier in the Devon National, and he never jumped a fence. He managed to stay in touch for quite a while thanks to his engine, but a mile from home he became tailed off after a series of laboured leaps. He remains a horse with potential, but he needs to brush up on his jumping if he wants to get back to winning ways.

Hopefully Milansbar bounces back to form in the Eider.

Confidence is obviously low after a poor run of results this week but, as the song goes, Things Can Only Get Better, and hopefully Milansbar can bounce back to form in the Eider Handicap at Newcastle. This 4 mile marathon will be run on testing ground, and that should really suit Neil King’s 10yo son of Milan. I tipped him up last time at Warwick, but he ran a stinker and was pulled up.

King’s yard was under a bit of a cloud then, and Milansbar was never going to figure after almost slipping up on the flat in the Welsh National at Chepstow on his previous start. He was pulled up on that occasion too, but King’s horse are running much better now. He has had 10 runners since the 11th of February, and 8 of those have finished in the first four.

One positive that can be gleaned from Milansbar’s last couple of poor runs is that the handicapper has eased him in the weights. It is less than 12 months since he was a fine second behind Firebird Flyer in the Midlands National at Uttoxeter (33.5f soft) off 145, and he now races off a mark of just 138.

He last won almost a year ago to the day off 137, hosing up at Exeter by 8L. Hopefully he gets into a rhythm early and avoids any early mistakes. If Whelan can get him rolling he will stay every inch of the trip, he loves the ground and at odds of 20/1 he is worth chancing for small stakes each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 14.45-MILANSBAR E/W @ 20/1