2025 Eider Handicap Chase Tips

Anglers Crag was the winner of the 2024 Eider Handicap Chase and the ten-year-old is back for another pop at Newcastle Racecourse in this February encounter. Since that triumph in the north-east twelve months ago, the runner was pulled up in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr before turning out at Newcastle in a handicap chase and finishing well off the pace.

There was also a midfield finish at Market Rasen in the middle of January before finishing fourth out of fourteen horses at Musselburgh this month, with all roads now leading to Newcastle and we have concrete evidence that the horse is able to stay the distance. There could also be a smart run from Git Maker despite a lack of obvious form.

The latter is a nine-year-old trained by Jamie Snowden, with the horse failing to put up much of a decent performance at Windsor last month, although there was a solid effort in the 2024 Scottish Grand National when finishing third at Ayr Racecourse. Sent off at 8/1, the horse acted well on soft ground and could be capable of another bright showing.

O’Connell is another runner who merits respect, especially after triumphing in the previous three outings. The nine-year-old was able to oblige for trainer Joel Parkinson when scoring at Sandown Park in early February, with the 7/4 favourite landing the spoils in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase and that was over three miles on heavy ground.

2024 Eider Handicap Chase Tips

Anglers Crag has landed three successive wins and trainer Brian Ellison will hope that there is more to come from his runner when it comes to this encounter. After returning to the track following wind surgery, there was a triumph at Carlisle over three miles and two furlongs, with this being followed up by successes at Market Rasen and Musselburgh.

There is a question mark over whether the horse will be able to stay a longer trip at Newcastle, although that accusation can be levelled at most runners in the field considering the monster trip that is on the cards. Fenland Tiger is carrying less weight and was recently seen winning at Newcastle over nearly three miles on heavy ground.

That had been preceded by a win at Doncaster when fending off four other rivals, with the horse having plenty of experience when it comes to running over a longer trip. The horse is trading at a similar price to Git Maker who was able to beat four competitors when winning a race at Lingfield Park before a midfield finish at Ascot.

It was a solid enough performance in the Howden Silver Cup Handicap Chase on good ground and the horse perhaps needs a longer trip to show his best colours. The runner should be suited to the slower pace here, while the same can be said of My Silver Lining who is arguably the best each-way selection based on achievements to date.

2023 Eider Handicap Chase Tips

Kitty’s Light has been installed at the head of the betting for the Eider Handicap Chase although punters might be wary of backing a horse that has failed to win on any of her past five outings. The seven-year-old was last seen running in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase over three miles at Kempton where a third placed finish was reasonable and ahead of favourite Tile Tapper.

However, this horse hasn’t been in the winners’ enclosure for some time and perhaps we can look elsewhere for the best betting value. Monbeg Genius has secured a consecutive hat-trick of wins and the last two have come at Chepstow, with the horse winning a handicap chase over two miles and seven furlongs last time out.

The Jonjo O’Neill-trained charge could certainly run a big race and the same applies to French Paradoxe who was able to triumph at Newcastle Racecourse as recently as 31 January. The Oliver Signy-trained runner could be about to demonstrate his worth over a longer distance and the horse was able to score at Wetherby earlier in the season.

Bushypark is a talented nine-year-old that could be a good each-way shout and Philip Kirby’s runner is not carrying a huge amount of weight for this encounter. The nine-year-old was able to succeed on his latest outing when obliging at Catterick on 12 January. Noticeably that was over three miles and six furlongs on heavy ground and this should bode well.

Notachance Betting Favourite to Win Eider Chase

Despite its name, Notachance has every chance of securing a victory in the Eider Handicap Chase and the majority of horse racing bookies have the seven-year-old as their market leader, with Alan King having already saddled his charge to two victories recently and he looks well placed to perform at a good level.

Notachance won the Anne Duchess Of Westminster Memorial Handicap Chase on 11 November, with the horse travelling well over three miles at Bangor-on-Dee, while there was better to come at Warwick when the same runner obliged with another victory as the 7/2 joint-favourite over three miles.

It was a half-length victory for a horse which beat Achille into second and perhaps the form can be franked this time around considering the fine margins, with the latter primed to run a big race in the Eider Chase and trainer Venetia Williams will have been pretty pleased with this recent performance.

That was Achille’s first outing at a racecourse in over a year so there could be more to come from an eleven-year-old who has plenty of wins under his belt along with bags of experience when it comes to these long distance races.

Can The Two Amigos Also Make an Impression?

The Two Amigos has finished in the frame on the past three occasions and we wouldn’t be surprised to see Nicky Martin’s horse first past the post at Newcastle in this encounter, with the nine-year-old most recently finishing second in the Coral Welsh National where he only found Secret Reprieve too good in the end.

It had been a similar story the previous month when the two horses held the same finishing positions, although Secret Reprieve is not entered for this clash and it might instead fall to horses such as Amateur, Crosspark and Sam’s Adventure to make up the minor placings.