Latest news with #EiderChase
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Trainer ‘shocked' after massive gamble on horse which won after 903-day absence
Lucky Bounce, who had never won a race before, had not run since December 2022 but was backed into favourite to make a winning return to action at Ffos Las A racehorse trainer said he was 'shocked' after a horse which he also owns justified a massive gamble to win on his first start for 903 days on Thursday. Lucky Bounce, trained in Herefordshire by Ryan Potter, was maiden after eight starts, three on the Flat and five in the jumps sphere. He had only made the frame once when he finished second in the handicap hurdle at Market Rasen. Yet that race was nearly two and a half years previously when he was beaten a neck after being sent off a 2-1 favourite. The Racing Post analysis said, 'Lucky Bounce was well backed stepping up in trip on his fifth hurdles start. He went agonisingly close for his supporters and compensation awaits.' Followers were kept waiting a long time for their 'compensation' as Lucky Bounce did not reappear until Thursday at Ffos Las where he was declared for a 3m novices' handicap hurdle under jockey Brendan Powell. On the course his odds reflected the fact he had a monster absence to overcome as he opened a 15-2 chance but close to the off those odds crashed and he went off the 5-2 favourite. Lined up at the front of the field by Powell, he made all the running and sealed victory over Miss Popalong with a clean jump at the last to win by a length. Potter, who has been training since 2011 and has a stable of 16 horses., recorded one of his biggest wins in February when Knockanore won the Eider Chase at Newcastle. Speaking to Sky Sports Racing after the success of Lucky Bounce, he said: 'Look, this has come as a bit of a shock now. It probably wasn't the best race in the world and I actually told Brendan to pop him out. He's got a bit of class about him. 'We thought he was better than what he is but we thought he would probably blow up and we'd win with him in a couple of races time. Brendan's given him a lovely ride and got a freebie in front. I probably wouldn't read too much into it. 'Somebody's had a couple of quid on him. His Market Rasen run before he got injured was probably good enough to win. It was a bad race. Nothing against the other horses in the race. 'Today's a shock. If we'd fancied him today he would have been in at Cartmel next week but this came as a shock.'
Telegraph
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Horse racing tips: Friday April 11
Friday brings a busy schedule of racing with seven fixtures across the UK and Ireland. The packed day of action starts at Ayr at the Scottish Grand National meeting (1.30-4.58pm). There are also meetings in England at Fontwell (1.40-4.30pm), Newbury (1.52-5.20pm), Sedgefield (4.15-7.25pm) and Huntingdon (4.35-7.08pm), and in Ireland at Ballinrobe (4.40-7.47pm) and Dundalk (5.30-8.30pm). Our nap of the day comes from the County Durham course, where we are backing Chemical Warfare in the 5.55pm race. Dan Fitch's selection: Odds provided by Betfair and correct at the time of writing. If you already have a Betfair account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out our list of the best free bets. 5.55, Sedgefield – Class 4 Handicap Chase (3m 2f) CHEMICAL WARFARE has won six races this season and looks capable of making it seven today. In his previous outing the Fame And Glory gelding struggled in the Eider Chase at Newcastle over 4m, shortly after undergoing wind surgery. The eight-year-old is now back at a more manageable distance and should return to his best after a decent break. Chemical Warfare has been transformed this season under the stewardship of David Pipe. Two of his six victories came in identical 3m 2f chases at this track, where the conditions were much the same as the good going we can expect this time. His frequent partner Jack Tudor is in the saddle again.
The Guardian
21-02-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Collectors Item can prove value bet for punters in gruelling Eider Chase
At four miles, one furlong and 55 yards, the Eider Chase at Newcastle is barely a furlong shorter than the Grand National and with the ground soft in places and some rain in the forecast, it may well demand as much staying power from its winner as the Aintree showpiece in April. As a result, it will require a slight leap of faith for punters to back either O'Connell or Collectors Item, the early favourites after a full field of 18 was declared on Thursday, as both will be racing beyond three-and-a-half miles for the first time. It is fair to stay that both horses shape as though marathon trips will be their forte, however, but O'Connell, who is going for a fourth straight handicap success, is now 22lb higher than for the first of those wins. Collectors Item (2.10) too is edging up the weights after a productive season to date but a 4lb rise for a strong-staying win at Wincanton last time is all but offset by Jack Hogan's 3lb claim. Kempton 1.50 Rubaud was somewhat flattered by his proximity to the Arkle-bound L'Eau Du Sud in the Kingmaker at Warwick but that was still a step forward after a fall on his chasing debut and this is a track where he generally runs well. Kempton 2.25 Having entered both Lulamba and Palladium for the last major trial for the Triumph Hurdle, Nicky Henderson decided to keep both of his leading four-year-olds at home but the form of Lulamba's British debut at Ascot in January should still get a boost via Mondo Man. Gary and Josh Moore's gelding was classy on the Flat, with a fifth place in the French Derby on his cv, and was within four lengths of Lulamba last time despite racing freely for much of the way. Southwell 2.40 Last year's winner, Diligent Harry, looked like he needed the run on his return from nearly 200 days off at Lingfield last time and he could well find the improvement required to turn the tables on Marshman, who was four lengths in front of him there. Kempton 3.00 A switch to front-running tactics saw an abrupt improvement in form by Andashan over course and distance earlier this month. This is a significant step up in the class but the bare form of his 18-length win was backed up by a strong time that suggests he is worth his place in Grade Two company. Kempton 1.15 Saint Anapolino 1.50 Rubaud 2.25 Mondo Man 3.00 Andashan 3.35 Lowry's Bar (nap) 4.10 Keep Running 4.45 One Knight Chepstow 1.25 Kapal Layar 2.00 Royal Jewel 2.32 Ikarak 3.07 Prince Quali 3.44 Sao Carlos 4.17 C'Est Different 4.52 Just Golden Newcastle 1.35 Drusilla 2.10 Collectors Item (nb) 2.45 He's Bresilian 3.20 J'Etoile 3.55 Big Boy Bobby 4.30 Caldwell 5.05 Treasured Company Southwell 2.40 Diligent Harry 3.15 Royal Champion 3.50 Glen Buck 4.25 Abruzzo Mia 5.00 Where's Freddy 5.30 Legendary Day 6.00 General Admission 6.30 Midnight's Dream 7.00 Shahbaz Chelmsford 5.15 Scattering Light 5.45 Enpassant 6.15 Combustion 6.45 Brunel Charm 7.15 El Bufalo 7.45 Elterwater 8.15 Ballybaymoonshiner Southwell 3.15 Royal Champion has had a globe-trotting career in six seasons on the track, having spent four years with Roger Varian in Newmarket before a switch to race in Australia where he was placed at Group Two level. He is now back in the UK with Kevin Ryan and looked as good as ever when landing a Listed event at Lingfield on the last day of 2024. Kempton 3.35 A bad mistake three out put paid to the winning chance of Lowry's Bar in a Grade Two novice chase at Windsor in January but he still kept on well to get within three lengths of a useful winner in Jingko Blue, has progressed smoothly in four starts over fences and remains unexposed at this three-mile trip.
