Anglers Crag is set to face a maximum 17 rivals in his bid to win the Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle for the second season in a row.
The Brian Ellison-trained gelding beat the reopposing Prince Des Fichaux by a neck in last year’s renewal of one of the longest races on the horse racing calendar, but is still 4lbs higher in the ratings compared to 12 months ago despite being in poor form this term.
Collectors Item, who finished second in the London National before winning at Wincanton last month, tops the weights.
The prolific O’Connell is next in the handicap after rising 22lbs following three wins in a row.
The field for Saturday’s 14:10 also includes 2023 Midlands Grand National scorer Major Dundee and last month’s Surrey National 1-2 Sporting Ace and Passing Well.
The latest Eider Handicap Chase odds are on the Paddy Power website and Paddy Power app, otherwise Timeform’s guide to the runners as well as betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Eider Handicap Chase 2025 verdict
Timeform: 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.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
Eider Handicap Chase 2025 runners and riders
The following horses have been declared for the Eider Handicap Chase 2025.
Collectors Item
Trainer: Jonjo & A.J. O’Neill Jockey: J. Hogan Age: 8 Weight: 12st 0lbs
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.
***
O’Connell
Trainer: Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith Jockey: Peter Kavanagh Age: 9 Weight: 11st 10lbs
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.
***
Egbert
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Tom Cannon Age: 8 Weight: 11st 10lbs
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.
***
History Of Fashion
Trainer: P. A. Fahy Jockey: Harry Sexton Age: 11 Weight: 11st 8lbs
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.
***
Anglers Crag
Trainer: Brian Ellison Jockey: Craig Nichol Age: 10 Weight: 11st 8lbs
A big improver for current stable after wind surgery last term, completing the four-timer when narrowly getting the better of Prince des Fichaux in this race 12 months ago. This is a more competitive renewal, though, and he hasn’t been at his best in 3 starts so far this season.
***
Ilikedthewayurthinkin
Trainer: Ben Haslam Jockey: Richie McLernon Age: 11 Weight: 11st 7lbs
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.
*****
Passing Well
Trainer: Jamie Snowden Jockey: Gavin Sheehan Age: 8 Weight: 11st 5lbs
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.
***
Major Dundee
Trainer: Alan King Jockey: Brian Hughes Age: 10 Weight: 11st 5lbs
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.
**
Gaboriot
Trainer: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero Jockey: Henry Brooke Age: 9 Weight: 11st 5lbs
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.
***
Your Own Story
Trainer: Lucinda Russell Jockey: Patrick Wadge Age: 9 Weight: 11st 5lbs
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.
**
Bretney
Trainer: Henry Daly Jockey: Alice Stevens Age: 10 Weight: 11st 4lbs
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.
*
Choosethenews
Trainer: Mark Walford Jockey: Jamie Hamilton Age: 8 Weight: 11st 4lbs
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.
****
Bodhisattva
Trainer: John McConnell Jockey: Alex Harvey Age: 8 Weight: 11st 2lbs
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.
***
Sporting Ace
Trainer: Neil King Jockey: Jack Quinlan Age: 9 Weight: 10st 12lbs
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.
***
Knockanore
Trainer: Ryan Potter Jockey: Freddie Mitchell Age: 8 Weight: 10st 9lbs
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.
**
Chemical Warfare
Trainer: David Pipe Jockey: Jack Tudor Age: 8 Weight: 10st 9lbs
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).
**
Lord Roco
Trainer: James Ewart Jockey: William Maggs Age: 9 Weight: 10st 5lbs
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.
**
Prince Des Fichaux
Trainer: Ewan Whillans Jockey: Sean Quinlan Age: 8 Weight: 10st 2lbs
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.
*
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