Beware The Bear roars to Rehearsal Chase success

Sean Bowen performed heroics to get Beware The Bear home in front in the At The Races Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle.

The saddle had slipped over the horse's quarters and most jockeys would have taken evasive action and pulled the horse up.

Bowen persevered, but even with half a mile to go it did not look as if he would be involved in the finish.

Yala Enki and Boric led into the straight with Bishops Road keeping them in their sights.,

At the time Beware The Bear looked set to complete in his own time and Jamie Moore appeared confident on Bishops Road.

He kicked Kerry Lee's stayer into the lead and everything seemed to have gone to plan - only for Beware The Bear to sprout wings.

The Nicky Henderson-trained seven-year-old was one of the favourites for the four-miler at Cheltenham last year and stamina is definitely one of his strong suits.

Despite Bowen being much further back than the norm, Beware The Bear flew the last two fences and the 11-4 favourite powered clear to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Bowen said: "I was struggling to stay on towards the end with my saddle gone.

"I lost it down the back straight and it was going further and further back.

"All he did was stay and he's tough, the boss (Henderson) said that he was an out-and-out galloper and he was right.

"He jumped great in fairness to him and to be honest that has probably kept him in the race.

"All he does is gallop and jump."