2023 Rehearsal Handicap Chase Betting Odds at Newcastle racecourse

Saturday, 02 December 2023

Shishkin is still going strong at the grand old age of nine and the horse is warm favourite to achieve a victory in the BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase despite being the top weight. While the bookies have installed the runner as favourite, the odds suggest that the market leader might be toppled by one of the other horses in the race.

Empire Steel was third last time out and this runner could benefit from a much lower weight allowance, with Sandy Thomson saddling this charge and there could be more to come from Elvis Mail who has secured back to back victories. With seventeen runners lining up for the race, there are going to be plenty of each-way places available.

2023 Rehearsal Handicap Chase Tips

Shishkin is favourite for the BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase although there will be an element of doubt regarding this runner. After all, the nine-year-old recently refused to race when sent off as the 8/13 favourite in the Nirvana Spa 1965 Chase, with this coming after a previously successful campaign which included a victory at Aintree Racecourse.

Shishkin was able to score as the 7/4 favourite in the Aintree Bowl Chase after beating Ahoy Senor, with this coming after the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham where the horse was beaten into second as the even money favourite. It’s possible that opposing the market leader is the way forward and Market Steel is a viable alternative.

The nine-year-old is trained by Sandy Thomson and finished third out of six runners in the Edinburgh Gin Chase when being sent off as the 9/4 favourite. Interestingly, Elvis Mail was able to score a victory on that occasion and it will be interesting to see whether this nine-year-old can cope with the weight increase that accompanies the win.

Easy As That was sixth last time out and the horse was last seen performing fairly well out of fourteen runners, with Bill Baxter making a bright appearance for trainer Warren Greatrex, with the 20/1 shot claiming a surprising victory in the Topham Handicap Chase. Perhaps the horse needed a recent outing at Carlisle and it will be interesting to see what happens.