ESKIMO PIE (1.35) possesses the perfect profile to make a winning debut over fences in the Beginners Chase at Newcastle.

Having won two novices' hurdles last season the progressive six-year-old is now qualified to go handicapping over the same obstacles, a route plenty of trainers would be tempted to take.

That option remains open to trainer Chris Bealby, but the fact that he's decided to send Eskimo Pie straight chasing suggests the gelding has schooled particularly well at home.

There's certainly no cribbing the quality of the selection's victory at Haydock last December, a race in which he defeated a brace of 120+ rated opponents. A reproduction of that level of form would leave him with only Wild Cane Ridge to beat in the two-and-a-half-mile contest.

Wild Cane Ridge achieved an identical rating as Eskimo Pie during the 2004-05 season, but for my money he beat much inferior individuals compared to his main rival this afternoon.

In the closing Nokia Handicap Chase, Bob's Buster (3.55) is back on a winning mark.

Out of luck in seven starts during the 2004-2005 campaign, the chunky nine-year-old slipped from 101, to a much more feasible rating of 93. There's also further encouragement to be gleaned from his reappearance at Hexham, where he finished third despite looking a little porky in the preliminaries.

The first day of Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting is predictably competitive, commensurate with the £130,000 of prize money on offer.

Pride of place goes to the £30,000 Sporting Index Chase, in which Historg (3.00) has an each-way squeak at a big price.

Once rated near Gold Cup material, Historg's fortunes have nose-dived over the past 18 months due to bursting blood vessels.

When this type of setback takes hold, it is often best from a punting perspective to catch the horse when fresh. Such scenarios rarely occur, but Historg has been off games for 265 days, which combined with the presence of Tom Dreaper in the saddle, might provide supporters with a winning combination.

Another northern raider likely to be in the mix is Crow Wood (1.15), a serious contender for the Anglo Irish Bank Novices Hurdle.

John Quinn's gelding scored on his timber debut at Uttoxeter, after which he was made market leader to follow up on a trip to Haydock. Crestfallen favourite backers were busy counting their cash, until Crow Wood belted the second last flight so hard he virtually stopped to a walk.

Wednesday's headline horse, Mr Rigsby, duly did the honours at Wolverhampton, the venue to which he now returns in a bid to maintain his 100 per cent record.

Although Paul Howling's two-year-old has bagged a brace of selling races to date, for the hat-trick he takes a definite step up in class by contesting the betdirect.co.uk Nursery

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