14:45 Newcastle
Saturday 25 February 2017
All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05
Betfred Eider Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 2  |  4m 122y  |  Soft (Heavy in places)  |  18 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:46Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 9m 11.5s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
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Fast emerging young staying chaser who produced a bold display to take the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick (3m6f good) in January. Raised 7lb for that success to a new mark of 139 and yet to experience such a test over this trip in extreme conditions. The Scottish National in April 2016 (pulled up) proved too much last season, but very much on the up, he commands much respect hailing from this stable.
Multiple hurdles winner (six from 17), earning an official rating of 145 over the smaller obstacles. Less experienced over fences, but has recorded two victories in this sphere so far (during novice campaign in late 2014). Seems to stay well over 3m plus, but has yet to experience this sort of stamina test and his less confident fencing is likely to be under scrutiny here. Wears regular blinkers.
Capable staying handicap hurdler who took a few starts before taking to fences at about this time last season. A decisive winner at Exeter in February 2016 (3m soft), he produced a career best when getting to within 2L of Firebird Flyer in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter (4m1f soft) in March 2016. Now races from a 7lb lower mark, but has been largely below his best (let down by his jumping) since finishing fourth to Lamb or Cod at Chepstow in early December.
Course winner in March 2016 (3m heavy), and her previous winning form illustrates that she relishes testing ground, but has yet to be really pitched in at this sort of level. Ran as well as could probably be expected on her seasonal return at Hereford earlier in the month despite finishing a tailed off third behind Goodtoknow, but highly unlikely to turn the form around with Mountainous (runner up) on that showing.
Proved no match for Rocking Blues when a 9L runner up in the 2016 Eider (also unseated rider when 11/2f for the 2015 renewal), so no stranger to the unique demands of this race. Outpaced early on his latest run in the Classic Chase (3m5f) at Warwick, he stayed on to finish just over 10L third to One For Arthur. Certain to handle the conditions.
Stable landed Newcastle's Rehearsal Chase earlier this winter, and is always to be feared with their long distance staying chasers. A brave winner of the 2014 Coral Welsh National (3m4f heavy), there can be no denying this horse's battling abilities. However, since missing the majority of 2015, he's not reached that level since being pulled up in successive Welsh Nationals, the 2016 Scottish Grand National, and most recently last month in the Classic Chase. First time blinkers applied in the hope of a revival.
Both victories over fences came in small field novice chases (Catterick and Newbury), and in truth has faced some difficult tasks in handicap company since. Finished seventh of 23 in the Grade 3 Ultima handicap chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival, so does have experience of the hustle and bustle of a big field, but this test in stamina sapping heavy ground will be a new challenge, and despite a falling mark, it's asking a lot of such a young horse.
A dual chase winner at this track, and produced an exhilarating display from the front when making the most of a good mark (125) to down Bigirononhiship by 7L over 3m here on soft ground last month. Hit with a 9lb rise, that's much less of a concern than this extra 1m plus, but he's likely to give his rider an exciting ride if attacking his fences like he did last time.
Undoubted career highlight came in February 2015, when landing this valuable race from a 1lb higher mark (rated 134). Conditions were much less attritional that afternoon (good to soft), and he was able to finish only seventh behind Rocking Blues in 2016. Often not the most fluent of fencers, but did prove the enthusiasm remains when winning over hurdles at Carlisle (3m1f soft) in December.
Notched a quickfire hat-trick over fences during February and March 2016, which resulted in his handicap mark rising by 19lb. Clearly handles testing ground well at around 3m, but appeared out of his depth in the 2016 Scottish Grand National. Well beaten on both starts this season, so has to be considered a most unlikely winner.
Dual Coral Welsh Grand National winner (2013 & 2016) who revels in long distance staying chases on heavy ground, so these conditions ought to be right up his street. Surprisingly this race hasn't featured on his agenda to date, but posted a seasonal best last time at Hereford earlier this month in similar conditions when runner up to stablemate Goodtoknow (3m1f).
Always considered likely tailor-made for these kind of stamina sapping contests from an early age, and was a game winner of the 2014 Mandarin handicap chase (3m1f good to soft) at Newbury in December of that year. Relatively lightly raced since (fourth in this race in 2015 to Milborough), and entitled to improve for his first run for 14 months when finishing fifth of 20 behind One For Arthur in Warwick's Classic Chase last month.
Veteran, but very much has the t-shirt, having landed this race from a 1lb higher mark way back in 2012 (on good ground). He also finished third in this contest to Rocking Blues last year, and is closely matched on that effort with Shotgun Paddy, but the worry is that he's another year older, and these conditions will be more extreme than ever following 15mm of rainfall at Newcastle on Thursday.
Stablemate of Mountainous, and also boasts success in a valuable staying chase (Warwick's 2016 Classic Chase) on his CV. A rugged grey, he was in touch in this race in 2016 when unseating his rider at the 19th fence, before finishing the season pulled up in the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse. He's taken a while to come back this season, but was runner up to Blakemount (3m2f) at Carlisle earlier this month, and is not without a chance from a mark of 130.
Pulled up when starting joint favourite for the Sussex National at Plumpton early in the New Year, which was somewhat of a surprise coming on the back of a success (3m4f) at Haydock in November. Finished fourth in this contest last season for Lucinda Russell, which was a good effort for a novice, and can't be totally discounted for a place with testing ground holding no fears.
Unbeaten at this track over fences (two from two), and up 4lb since winning over 3m here last month (soft). He was probably a shade fortuitous that day with likely winner Subtle Grey falling fatally at the second last, and this is far stronger with stamina over 4m plus an unknown.
Revelled in testing ground when taking the Sussex National at Plumpton (3m4f soft) last month, and runs today from just a 4lb higher mark. However, was disappointing when pulled up in the Somerset National at Wincanton just 17 days later, and whilst it's possible that race may have come too soon, he's already had a busy campaign also contesting the Southern (Fontwell) and London (Sandown) Nationals, with this race certain to be his most gruelling this season.
Veteran who kept his trainers fine record in the Kelso Borders National going (December 2016), with an eased 5L success from subsequent winner Carrigdhoun. He was no match for the younger Straidnahanna next time in the North Yorkshire Grand National at Catterick, and this looks a tough assignment for a horse that his served his trainer with distinction throughout his career.
Forecasts
Shotgun Paddy (6/1), Knockanrawley (8/1), Mountainous (8/1), Mysteree (10/1), Russe Blanc (10/1), Smooth Stepper (14/1), Out Sam (14/1), Alto Des Mottes (14/1), Berea Boru (14/1), Milborough (14/1), Portrait King (16/1), Gevrey Chambertin (16/1), Harry The Viking (20/1), Emperor's Choice (20/1), Streets Of Promise (20/1), Milansbar (20/1), Straidnahanna (25/1), Morney Wing (33/1)
An Eider Chase with which Thursday's heavy rainfall (15mm) promises to be every bit as searching a test as the infamous race in 2011 which saw Companero stagger home in front. Expect stablemates Smooth Stepper and Straidnahanna to race prominently, both being very much chasers on the upgrade, but wily experience in these sort of big field handicaps can come to the fore. Both Mountainous and Russe Blanc are massively respected for Kerry Lee, but conditions will also suit SHOTGUN PADDY who looks likely to plug on, and had a number of these rivals behind him in this race in 2016 including past winners Portrait King, Milborough, and the then Lucinda Russell trained novice Mysteree.
1. Shotgun Paddy
2. Russe Blanc
3. Mountainous
Prize Money
1st: £50,048.002nd: £14,784.003rd: £7,392.004th: £3,696.005th: £1,848.006th: £928.00
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