Swan happy with Eider weight

This Is Serious will have to defy his highest-ever handicap mark when he travels to England for Saturday`s Tote Eider National at Newcastle.

The Charlie Swan-trained eight-year-old has been allotted a mark of 123 for the marathon contest, run over four miles and a furlong.

But with top-weight Beau an intended runner despite his welter burden of 12st, This Is Serious has crept into the contest on a nice-looking weight of 10st 4lb, much to the delight of Swan.

'That is a nice racing weight, I can`t pretend I wouldn`t be pleased if Beau ran and it stayed that way,' Swan said today.

'After he won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last time the plan was to go for the Grand National or the Midlands National at Uttoxeter.

'But it doesn`t look like he is going to make it into the race at Aintree as he is so far down the weights and he has come out of his last race so well we thought the Newcastle race looked a good opportunity.

'David Casey has been booked to ride and I think he should run well.

'The ground will be fine for him and he has jumped round places like Leopardstown and Fairyhouse without a problem.'

This Is Serious is the 9-2 favourite with bookmakers Blue Square for Saturday`s race.

However Swan himself will be unable to make the journey as he is set to be in action in the saddle at Gowran Park.

'I`ll probably have to watch it on television from the weighing room,' he said.

The Tote bet: 4-1 This Is Serious, 7-1 Hugo De Grez, Radiation, Sad Mad Bad, Scotton Green, 8-1 Meadowbank, 10-1 Suntas, 11-1 Ackzo, 14-1 Ardent Scout, Beau, Birkdale, Lordberniebouffant, The Last Fling, 16-1 Kendal Cavalier, Narrow Water, Scotmail Boy, The Pickled Duke, 20-1 bar.

Blue Square: 9-2 This Is Serious, 7-1 Hugo de Grez, 8-1 Radiation, Sad Mad Bad, Scotton Green, 9-1 Beau, 10-1 The Last Fling, 12-1 Meadowbank, 14-1 Suntas, 16-1 Birkdale, Ackzo, Narrow Water, Lordberniebouffant, 20-1 bar.