Mick & David Easterby

Eligible won at Newcastle earlier this month

Eligible takes aim for a hat‑trick at Southwell on Friday

Posted: 10.55

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21 Jan 26

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Racing

Eligible heads to Southwell on Friday in sparkling form as he bids for a third win on the bounce.

The gallant ten‑year‑old, known his friends as 'Eddy', lines up in the BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap, returning to the scene of four previous course‑and‑distance victories at the track he knows better than anywhere. Eligible's task has been made a little easier by the division of the race, and he will contest Division Two where only eight horses face the judge.

Eligible will carry top weight and has been drawn in stall four. The horse to beat is King Of Ithaca, who was an easy course and distance winner last month. He's landed the best draw in stall one. Hitched has also been running well and he can race off the same mark as when he narrowly went down by a head to Paladin in the final strides at Wolverhampton last week.

Since joining us from Clive Cox in 2021, Eligible has been a tremendous servant and continues to thrive with age. He enjoys a superb partnership with Joanna Mason, who takes the ride again and has been aboard for seven of his career wins.

With 11 victories from 66 starts, Eligible boasts an impressive strike rate, and he arrives here after back‑to‑back successes. His latest came at Newcastle, where he defeated Book Of Life to score by two and three‑quarter lengths, earning a six‑pound rise to a mark of 80.

Joanna Mason and Eligible

Southwell on Friday

6.45

Eligible

BetMGM Supports Safer Gambling Handicap (Div II)

Joanna Mason

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