14:10 Newcastle

Saturday 22 February 2025

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:13 | Winning time: 8m 45.1s

Collectors Item^b³⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136

11/1

Back on track when second in the London National at Sandown in December before going one better in the Somerset equivalent at Wincanton (26.7f, soft). 4 lb rise for that decisive success is by no means harsh and shapes as though this extreme stamina test will be right up his street. Key player.

Form: 74-1521

O'Connell²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 132

7/1

Improved model this season, building on Carlisle success when easily winning the 27.6f Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen on Boxing Day. Completed the hat-trick with a power-packed finish at Sandown and while an 8 lb rise demands more, he's a strong stayer and is evidently at the top of his game.

Form: 24-8111

Egbert^v⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 132

25/1

Dual chase winner at up to 3m last season and surpassed those exploits on second run of this campaign when landing the Tommy Whittle in decisive fashion at Haydock (25.6f, heavy). Well worth another crack at a marathon trip and 5 lb rise fair, so he could have a part to play.

Form: P12P-51

History Of Fashion^p⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 11-8| J: H E Sexton⁽⁷⁾| T: P A Fahy| OR: 130

16/1

Proved that he possesses abundant stamina reserves when landing a 13-runner handicap at Fairyhouse (29.7f, good) at the beginning of December. By no means disgraced in a valuable contest at Leopardstown during the Christmas period and this Irish raider is not without each-way hope.

Form: 5P-P116

Ilikedwayurthinkin^p³³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 129| C

8/1

Useful handicap hurdler/chaser who has won 4 of his last half-a-dozen starts, including a 3¾m contest off an 8 lb lower mark in November. Clear of the rest when finding one too strong at Ayr last time and, unexposed over extreme distances, he is an appealing candidate for this test.

Form: 113112

Passing Well^t,p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 127| BF| C

10/1

Ended last season on a bit of a downer but has barely put a foot wrong in 4 appearances since returning to action in November, just touched off by the re-opposing Sporting Ace at Lingfield (28.8f, soft) last time. 1 lb better off with that rival now and it should again be close between them.

Form: 54-2232

Major Dundee^v²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: A King| OR: 127

25/1

Winner of 2023 Midlands Grand National and was in the process of running creditably when unseating 2 out in this race last year. However, he has failed to fire in a couple of runs so far this season and Tom Cannon prefers Egbert.

Form: 35PU-6P

Gaboriot^p⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 127

11/1

Scored twice in hunter chases last May and has continued largely in good order, third of 7 in handicap chase at Haydock (28.4f, soft) last time. Stamina won't be an issue (one of the aforementioned hunters that he won was over 32.4f) and each-way claims with cheekpieces refitted.

Form: U-11363

Your Own Story^p⁵⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: P W Wadge| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 127

14/1

Reacted well to first-time cheekpieces when 10 lengths second in the 4m Borders National at Kelso (soft) in December. Didn't disgrace himself in the Welsh version at Chepstow later that month but he could probably do with some respite from the handicapper.

Form: 222-P26

Bretney^b²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 126

66/1

Resumed winning ways in the Borders National at Kelso in December but followed that with a poot effort in a valuable Musselburgh handicap and he looks vulnerable. Blinkers refitted.

Form: 2P1-71P

Choosethenews²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford| OR: 126| C

5/1

Point/hurdles winner who made a bright start over fences, showing a likeable attitude when opening his account here (2½m, heavy) last spring. Again performed well at this course when runner-up over 23.4f last time, shaping as though an even stiffer test would be in his favour. Not discounted.

Form: 31-22P2

Bodhisattva^p²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Alex Harvey⁽⁵⁾| T: J C McConnell| OR: 124

10/1

Bounced back to form in a change of headgear when second of 6 in 3m handicap chase at Doncaster in late December. Proved that to be no flash in the pan when also runner-up in the Edinburgh National earlier this month and he's another with a realistic each-way chance.

Form: 36-P822

Sporting Ace²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 120

14/1

Returned to form with headgear omitted when narrowly outpointing Passing Well in a Lingfield marathon last time. 5 lb rise demands more but he promises to be suited by this stamina test and should make his presence felt.

Form: 22-2751

Knockanore^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter| OR: 117

16/1

Fairly useful winning hurdler who returned to the pick of his form in that sphere when opening chase account in good style at Uttoxeter (2½m, heavy) in December. Placed both subsequent starts, latterly upped to 3m at Market Rasen, but whether he wants a stamina test such as this remains to be seen.

Form: 562133

Chemical Warfare^t⁵⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| CWS

22/1

Most progressive since joining this yard, winning for sixth time (and, in the process, enhancing his good record here) since last June when scoring at this course (23.4f, good to soft) in December. Bad mistake 5 out took the wind out of his sail at Doncaster last time (since undergone a wind op).

Form: 111415

Lord Roco^p²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: William Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 113| C

8/1

This hurdles winner remains a maiden over fences but has been placed on 5 of his 7 starts in this sphere, including when third in the 23.4f handicap won by If Not For Dylan last time, finishing just behind the re-opposing Choosethenews. Goes into the unknown trip-wise but he's not a forlorn hope.

Form: 22PP/23

Prince Des Fichaux^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Ewan Whillans| OR: 108

28/1

Has performed with great credit on his 2 previous runs here, including when just touched off by Anglers Crag in this race 12 months ago. However, he has struggled since and it's probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 7-5PP3P

Rule 4

Rule 4 applies to board prices only - deduction 5p in the pound

Result Amended

Major Dundee - Original Position 7th. Amended Position 6th.

Your Own Story - Original Position 5th. Amended Position 9th.

Choosethenews - Original Position 6th. Amended Position 5th.

Sporting Ace - Original Position 9th. Amended Position 8th.

Chemical Warfare - Original Position 8th. Amended Position 7th.

Non-Runners

Anglers Crag²⁰

Weight: 11-8| Age: 10

T: B Ellison J: Craig Nichol

Forecasts

Choosethenews (5/1), O'Connell (7/1), Anglers Crag (7/1), Ilikedwayurthinkin (8/1), Lord Roco (8/1), Passing Well (10/1), Bodhisattva (10/1), Collectors Item (11/1), Gaboriot (11/1), Sporting Ace (14/1), Your Own Story (14/1), Knockanore (16/1), History Of Fashion (16/1), Chemical Warfare (22/1), Major Dundee (25/1), Egbert (25/1), Prince Des Fichaux (28/1), Bretney (66/1)

The pick of several compelling candidates is ILIKEDWAYURTHINKIN, who looks tailor-made for this test judged on his impressive display over 3¾m here on his penultimate start. He jumps/travels well and remains on a plausible mark. Choosethenews bounced back from a poor run at Carlisle when runner-up here last time and he will be a threat if his stamina passes the test, while the likes of Collectors Item, Egbert, Gaboriot and O'Connell all command respect.