Newcastle Preview: Cobajayisland can collect for Lucinda

Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell has her team in good form at present and her Cobajayisland looks weighted to take all the beating in the 2m 4f novices’ handicap chase at Newcastle today (3.20).

The gelding was a point winner who opened his account over the obstacles at the first time of asking when staying on gamely to land a novice handicap chase at Hexham off a mark of 105.
The seven-year-old got put up to 112 for that success, and after finishing a distant fourth in a decent contest at Aintree ran really well when runner-up to Bearly Legal in a class 4 contest at Musselburgh.

Cobajayisland made a couple of mistakes and got hampered before staying on to be beaten six lengths and the form has a strong look to it as the fourth home Reaping The Reward, who was 11 1/2 lengths behind the selection, has since come out and won a decent class 3 contest off 123.

The handicapper subsequently dropped Cobajayisland another 1lb to 110, and the son of Heron island was still travelling well and in the process of running a huge race when coming to grief five from home last time out at Ayr.

Cobajaysialnd has since been schooling and going well at home, and with testing conditions holding no fears this looks a lovely opportunity for him to gain compensation for that unfortunate mishap.

In the 3m handicap chase (2.20), the progressive No Through Road is going to be tough to beat.

The Michael Scudamore trained gelding has taken his form to a new level this season, winning five of his six starts.

The eight-year-old’s only defeat came on his penultimate start at Wetherby when he came to grief at the last when clear of his rivals and having the race at his mercy.

No Through Road showed that tumble had left no lasting effects when bolting-up at Ayr last week off a mark of 110, and it’s no surprise to see connections turn him out quickly under a 7lb penalty.
The son of Grape Tree Road is due to go up 9lb for that success, so is 2lb well-in at the weights.

That makes No Through Road impossible to oppose in his current mood, especially with underfoot conditions holding no fears and the in-form Tom Scudamore in the saddle.