Eider Chase Day Betting Tips

Fighting Fifth Hurdle aside, the Eider Chase is the biggest race of the year over jumps at Newcastle and we have another fiercely competitive running on Saturday.

We have selected our best bets with analysis for all seven races at Newcastle, including the big one at 2.10.

13:35 - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (2m4½f)

This novice hurdle is likely to develop into a match between Irish raider Drusilla and Surrey Belle. Drusilla has improved with every run over hurdles and shouldn't be far away in receipt of a hefty weight-for-age allowance with a promising conditional rider aboard. However, Surrey Belle was a level above Drusila on the Flat and has made a bright start to her hurdling career for Adrian Keatley. The form of her second to subsequent Victor Ludorum winner Gibbs Island two starts back reads well, and she was an easy winner at Uttoxeter last time.

Selection: Surrey Belle

14:10 - Eider Handicap Chase (4m1½f)

Collectors Item has been a big improver for Jonjo and AJ O’Neill over the past year and arrives with a strong each-way shout in the Eider. After badly needing his return at Newbury in November, Collectors Item relished a first crack at a marathon trip when keeping on pluckily behind Mr Vango in the London National. That horse followed up in the Peter Marsh, and the selection did his own bit for the form with a strong-staying success over a warm favourite in the Somerset National last time. Stamina is his forte.

Selection: Collectors Item

14:45 - Maiden Hurdle (2m1f)

He’s Bresilian showed fair form in bumpers this winter and is taken to break his hurdles duck for Jedd O’Keeffe. The five-year-old outran odds of 50-1 when keeping on into third behind a Willie Mullins-trained winner and a 131-rated hurdler on his hurdles debut at Wetherby in January. That was a level above his bumper exploits, and he jumped nicely throughout. He had a fair reputation in point-to-points and looks a nice prospect who is capable of picking up a moderate maiden hurdle.

Selection: He’s Bresilian

15:20 - Handicap Chase (2m4f)

It looks significant that Ryan Potter has enlisted the services of Freddie Mitchell for the first time to ride Jetoile in this handicap. Mitchell is good value for his 5lb claim and Jetoile, who has been contesting far superior races over the past year, goes off an enticing mark. He placed at the Punchestown festival off 10lb higher last May, and his Uttoxeter flop on bad ground two weeks ago is easy to forgive, given he isn’t a three-miler. A better showing is expected.

Selection: Jetoile

15:55 - Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)

Bust A Move held a Triumph Hurdle entry earlier in the season and merits a second look in the 2m1f handicap hurdle. Useful on the Flat with a BHA mark of 77, Bust A Move comfortably brushed aside subsequent winner Hosaamm on his hurdles debut at Catterick and enhanced his form in this sphere when third in a better race at Wetherby. He enters handicaps off a low mark with a juicy weight-for-age allowance, and will probably need to win this if the Fred Winter at next month’s Cheltenham Festival is on his radar.

Selection: Bust A Move

16:30 - Novices’ Handicap Chase (2m½f)

Caldwell has enjoyed an excellent 12 months, winning on the Flat, over hurdles and over fences. If arriving in the same heart as he did when a rampant winner of a selling hurdle at Fakenham last week, he can follow up in this novice handicap chase. His previous start in this discipline resulted in a ready success at Hexham in October, and a 8lb rise for that looks fair given the improvement he has made since joining Jennie Candlish. Versatile regarding the surface, he can go well.

Selection: Caldwell

17:05 - Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (2m1f)

Kabuki landed a bumper at Newcastle on his debut for Donald McCain and looks interesting in his first handicap hurdle off a mark of 100. He was unable to reproduce his bumper form in three novice hurdle starts, but clearly wasn’t seeing out his races. The five-year-old looks the type to derive some benefit from wind surgery and a 98-day break will have freshened him up. Closely related to the yard’s good two-miler Dear Sire, Kabuki can begin to realise his potential in a race that lacks quality.

Selection: Kabuki

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