The Eider Chase is one of the great marathon tests on the National Hunt schedule. Run over 4m1½f, it requires stamina beyond measure, and with a deep field entered for the 2025 renewal, Joe Napier gives his 1-2-3 verdict.
Anglers Crag completed a four-timer when battling to success from Prince Des Fichaux in the race last season.
O’CONNELL
(Joel Parkinson & Sue Smith/Peter Kavanagh)
This year’s in-form horse is O’Connell, who brings a startlingly similar profile to Anglers Crag into the race. The nine-year-old has improved markedly this season, narrowly winning it Carlisle before more impressive successes at Market Rasen and Sandown. Having struggled beyond 3m before this season, marathon distances now appear to be his specialism.
The last two victories were secured decisively and with stamina coming to the fore. The worries would be that he is up another 8lb in the handicap and no winner of this in the last decade has carried more than 11st 4lb to victory. Off 11st 10lb, he but it is difficult to ignore the claims of a horse on a roll, with 3lb claimer Peter Kavanagh helping to ease the burden.
COLLECTORS ITEM
(Jonjo & A J O’Neill/Jack Hogan)
Collectors Item is another horse for whom it took a while to click over fences, but it certainly has over the last 12 months. He secured a first chase victory by a wide margin at Uttoxeter last May, and with one blip at Newbury in the middle, has continued on a sharp upward curve at Sandown and Wincanton since.
He was a close second to Mr Vango in the London National at the former, before outstaying his rivals at Wincanton over 3m2f last time out. He gives the impression that the further step up 4o 4m1½f here will only benefit him more and he is only up 4lb for that last success. Similar fears apply to him in terms of the weight he has to carry, but his chance is significant.
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The Eider Chase is seen as a Grand National Trial with Comply Or Die taking both in 2008. There are 24 fences to be jumped over a trip of 4m 1½f. I’ve looked at all runnings this century and compared those with the last ten renewals to see if I can point out any notable…
Tue 18 Feb 2025ANGLERS CRAG
(Brian Ellison/Craig Nichol)
Last year’s winner was completing a run of four wins in a row when narrowly victorious 12 months ago. He is winless in four starts since, but few races offer this sort of test to their competitors and a return to this race looks to be what Anglers Crag’s season has revolved around.
He was pulled up in the much tougher Scottish National at Ayr before three mid-division finishes this season. His best effort came when fourth at Musselburgh over 3m7½f last time out, but he drops down to a mark only 4lb above last year’s winning mark. This year’s renewal is stronger, but he is not discounted.
PASSING WELL
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
Unlike some of his key rivals here, Passing Well is quickly becoming a frustrating horse to follow. He has finished in the top three on seven of his nine chase starts, but has just the one win to show for it, and has form figures this season of 2232.
He looked set to finally return to the winners’ enclosure last time before being collared late at Lingfield over 3m5f on heavy ground. He has been punished 4lb by the handicapper for that, with the winner opposing again here, though he clearly stays well so could easily be on the premises again.
THE FIELD
Last year’s runner-up Prince Des Fichaux will catch a few eyes given he is 4lb lower in the handicap than when beaten a neck by Anglers Crag in the 2024 edition. His form has taken a dive, but there have been one or two signs of hope that could see him involved.
Other stout stayers Major Dundee and Your Own Story must make the reckoning given they would stay a mile further than this. The former is on a very dangerous mark and would have gone close a year ago but for unseating late on, while the latter was second in a tougher race than this at Punchestown to end last season and may be coming to the boil at the right time.
Choosethenews and Knockanore have both been consistent of late, but are each stepping up massively in distance, though he cannot make appeal on that basis. On the other hand, Gaboriot and History Of Fashion have both won beyond 3m4f and make appeal with the ground on the quicker side of soft. Gaboriot in particular had shaped very promisingly on his first two starts of the season, though the latter has won two of his four races this term and was sixth in the always-competitive Paddy power Chase at Leopardstown at Christmas. That is potentially among the best form on offer.
The rejuvenated Ilikedwayurthinkin cannot be entirely dismissed, nor can Bretney despite a poor display last time out.
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Thu 20 Feb 2025VERDICT
This is a tremendously competitive renewal of this fierce marathon contest. History dictates that Collectors Item and O’Connell will struggle to carry their burdens to success over this thorough test despite both having leading form claims, so preference is for GABORIOT who shaped very promisingly over the Grand National fences in the autumn and who retains potential. Even his weight of 11st 5lb would be greater than any lifted to success in this race over the last decade, but he is attractively handicapped and has won over 4m as a hunter chaser. Irish raider History Of Fashion has proven evergreen at the age of 11 this term and is feared most, while last year’s winner Anglers Crag has surely had his season geared around a repeat win here.
- Gaboriot
- History Of Fashion
- Collectors Item
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