'His work has been very good - we've got no excuses' - who is confident for the Rehearsal at Newcastle?

The Rehearsal Chase is typically the 'pot two' version of the Coral Gold Cup. That holds true this year, despite a healthy field of 13, which is the highest for this race since 2009.

Topweight this year is the 146-rated Marble Sands, who beat Coral Gold Cup favourite Colonel Harry last time. Next in the weights is Kinondo Kwetu, a summer horse whose ground has normally gone by now. The other 11 runners are rated 136 or lower.

As in the Coral Gold Cup, the competitiveness of this year's Rehearsal is genuine even though the outright quality of the runners has dropped. Bowtogreatness and The Changing Man, the post-declarations favourites here, would have fitted right in at Newbury. Blackjack Magic and Anglers Crag bring the heritage, having won last season's Badger Beer and Eider.

There are also prospective improvers in the field. Donny Boy was third behind Sharjah in Ayr's valuable novice handicap chase at the Scottish National meeting. He has likely had this race as his first major target in open company.

Jet Plane ended last season on the rise, and his third at Wetherby last month is working out well. He is bred to stay three miles, but he has not always shaped in kind.

There is also a sense that Some Scope has been written off too soon following a poor run at Cheltenham last month. That day he went off half the price of winner Senior Chief, who might yet go off favourite for the Coral Gold Cup.

Some Scope had wind surgery after that run and may be using this as a bridge to the Great Yorkshire Chase after the turn of the year, but he still makes some appeal at lengthy odds, showing that this race, like its pot one counterpart at Newbury, bats right down the order.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Graeme McPherson, joint-trainer of Marble Sands
We've been trying for the last two years to run him over three miles on good ground, but every time we found the right trip, the weather conspired against us. This looks to be his ideal conditions. He's topweight, but Nick [Slatter] takes off 3lb. He has a good run at Carlisle under his belt and goes there with a decent chance.

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Blackjack Magic and Gustavian
Gustavian ran a lovely race in the Badger Beer. He kept on nicely and finished his race off well, so I'm hopeful he'll have come on for it. He's proven over the trip on this ground. Blackjack Magic has some good form on the ground and he's got a great record fresh.

David Pipe, trainer of Neon Moon
He put in a career best last time. We've gone up there for the better ground. The flat track suits and everything should be in his favour.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Jet Plane
He's going really well. We've been happy with how he's been progressing. He's not achieved anything to this level yet, but it could be in this race that he makes that step up.

Ben Pauling, trainer of Bowtogreatness
He's in good order and goes there with every chance. His work at home has been very good. He's versatile with the ground, so we've got no excuses.

Joe Tizzard, trainer of The Changing Man
He was a long way from home, but he appeared to be travelling well in the Badger Beer last time. He's come out of it fine and schooled really well. It's a nice race for him and he looks capable of winning one of these.

Nick Alexander, trainer of Donny Boy
This has been the plan since his last run at Ayr. He ran well over course and distance on similar ground last season. He seems in good form and takes his racing well. The ground should be fine.

Venetia Williams, trainer of Frero Banbou
We're stepping up in trip a little bit and we'll see how he gets on. We'd have liked a bit more rain.
Reporting by James Stevens

Read the rest of our Saturday previews:

1.54 Newbury: 'She will be happy with everything' - does Nicky Henderson hold the key to this valuable handicap hurdle?

1.55 Fairyhouse: 'She should go very close' - plenty of confidence behind favourite in Grade 3 WillowWarm Hurdle

2.10 Newcastle: Sir Gino vs Mystical Power - analysis and trainer comments for Fighting Fifth showdown

2.25 Newbury: 'He's an exciting prospect' - Gary Moore bullish about one of his runners as stable seeks back-to-back Gerry Feilden victories

3.00 Newbury: 'This race has been his target all season' - Broadway Boy set for bold bid in a Coral Gold Cup to savour