This Saturday sees another fine renewal of the Eider Chase which is run over a marathon distance of 4m1½f.

The race, which at one point in time was renamed the “Northern National” is regarded by some trainers and owners as the ideal prep race for the actual Grand National itself at Aintree in just under two months time, although this year none of the runners hold that entry.

Due to the time of year the race takes place, the conditions more often than not tend to be testing, providing a unique stamina contest for the horses and jockeys alike.

Invariably over the years the trends tend to point to about half the field failing to complete the race and on many occasions there are single digit finishers. It isn’t always the prettiest of races to watch for those very reasons.

Eider Chase Winners: (Last 10 Years)

  • 2019 – CROSSPARK (12/1)
  • 2018 – BAYWING (8/1)
  • 2017 – BAYWING (8/1)
  • 2017 – MYSTEREE (10/1)
  • 2016 – ROCKING BLUES (8/1)
  • 2015 – MILBOROUGH (18/1)
  • 2014 – WYCK HILL (9/1)
  • 2013 – No Race
  • 2012 – PORTRAIT KING (11/4 fav)
  • 2011 – COMPANERO (16/1).

 

Runner-By-Runner Guide

Prime Venture (Evan Williams)

The nine-year-old finished fourth in the Welsh Grand National but worryingly he hasn’t troubled the judge now since 2017 and is becoming more of a Placepot banker, than a horse racing betting win proposition.

Having said all that stamina is most certainly his forte and even though he will be required to lug around top weight here, he has to come into the reckoning.

Over To Sam (Harry Fry)

Over To Sam comes into this race on the back of a tidy win at Plumpton last month where he beat Christmas In April.

The lightly-raced nine-year-old has gone up 3lbs for that victory but he looks like a horse that is on the up.

Theligny (Tim Vaughan)

The nine-year-old has an unorthodox style of jumping but things all clicked into place last time when he accounted for Jammy George at Ffos Las.

As with many of these, the trip is an unknown, but a win at 3 miles in heavy ground at Ffos Las is a good grounding for any horse that is going on to tackle a marathon trip.

Fortified Bay (Jennie Candlish)

Jennie Candlish-trained runners traditionally come to the fore every season in the month of February, and for that very reason I think this in-from eight-year-old has an outstanding chance.

The trip should be no issue and it looks like he’ll be in the thick of it.

Shanroe Santos (Lucy Wadham)

The experienced eleven-year-old is a former Southern National winner and has previously mixed it with the best handicap chasers around.

If his old sparkle returns then he is certainly in with a great each-way shout at a nice price.

Calipso Collonges (Olly Murphy)

Calipso Collonges was last seen chasing home Lord Du Mesnil in the Tommy Whittle Handicap which is probably one of the most recent significant form lines in the  entire field.

Based on his last run alone, the gelding should not be underestimated in this line up.

Petite Power (Fergal O’Brien)

Stamina will certainly not be an issue for the veteran in this contest but he does appear to be in the handicappers grip now after a successful season thus far.

My heart likes him, but my head tells me that he will probably get caught out by younger legs in the run for home.

Christmas In April (Colin Tizzard)

Christmas In April is another runner that should make a real fist of it in the conditions but doesn’t look particularly well handicapped.

The eight-year-old is very closely matched with Over To Sam and the pair of them could easily make the podium.

Very First Time (Dan Skelton)

Very First Time finished fourth behind Hugo 'n Taz in December, but bounced right back next time with a four lengths success at Doncaster.

He has gone up 7lbs for that win which will probably be his undoing in the final embers of this feature race.

Ascot De Bruyere (James Ewart)

The ten-year-old is somewhat of a course specialist at Newcastle, but he was well beaten on his last two starts here and has it all to do in the rematch with Fortified Bay.

Glittering Love (Nicky Richards)

Nicky Richards has been the Eider King in recent years and he teams up here with the “champion jockey-elect”, Brian Hughes.

The Eider has been the eight-year-old’s target for some time so I expect him to be very finely tuned for Saturday’s showpiece. 

Donna’s Delight (Sandy Thomson)

Won last time out in heavy ground Ayr in a race where many failed to complete due to the testing conditions. 

The nine-year-old has now been raised 6lbs in the handicap which will make this follow up attempt all the more difficult.

Hugo ‘N Taz (David Pipe)

David Pipe saddled Comply Or Die to lift the 2008 Eider and he will have similar grand designs with Hugo ‘N Taz.

The nine-year-old collected Market Rasen's Lincolnshire National on Boxing Day and he appeared to revel in the soft conditions. An 8lb rise in the weights may not curtail his upward curve just yet.

Alminar (Nigel Hawke)

I’ve been interested in this gelding ever since I saw him run at Chepstow in January 2019 and I had him down as a future stayer right away.

His subsequent runs at both Ffos Las and Chepstow have all pointed towards a possible big staying chase somewhere along the line, and here we are, on the cusp of the North’s finest long distance test. He’s a major each-way player for my money.

Financial Outcome (Rebecca Curtis)

A two-time winner on the point-to-point scene, but despite being pretty consistent, he’s only managed to get his head in front once so far under Rules.

He has age and weight on his side here however and could quite easily run into a place.

Eider Chase: Who Wins?

It’s a fair old trek from Devon to Newcastle and back so Nigel Hawke must believe that he’s heading up north with a runner that has a great chance.

Alminar is my nap but I’m finding hard to leave out Fortified Bay from my deliberations, so the Candlish runner is going to be my next best.

888sport suggests: Alminar and Fortified Bay (e/w).

 

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Lynne Sladky / AP Photo*

February 21, 2020

By Steve Mullington

Steve Mullington
  • ">
  • Body

    Steven is a sports and horse racing enthusiast and is a member of the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) in the United Kingdom.

    He is a regular visitor to Paris Longchamp for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and a lifelong fan of the Aintree Grand National, a subject he writes about 52 weeks of the year. Last year he reached the impressive milestone of attending the last 30 renewals of the Grand National.

    Steven graduated from the University Of Lancaster in 1996 with a B.A (Hons) in Urban Policy & Race Relations (major) with Contemporary Religions & Belief Systems (minor) and still wonders if any of these help him find the winners?

    He writes for a number of websites and online publications and you can sometimes hear him at the weekend discussing racing on a number of local radio stations. 

    Steve Mullington
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    The first five races of the 2019 Formula One season ended in one-two finishes for Mercedes.

    An historic run from the sport’s dominant force, and it set the foundations for an unassailable lead for the Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers’ Championship and the Silver Arrows in the Constructors.

    Hamilton recorded a sixth title, and it wasn’t under pressure after the opening rounds. The Brit secured it with two races to go, but that doesn’t tell the full story.

    Hamilton finished 87 points clear of his nearest challenger Valtteri Bottas and 135 ahead of the closest non-Mercedes driver Max Verstappen.

    There were some great races in the 2019 season. The German and Brazilian Grands Prix were bonkers, weather wreaking havoc on both occasions.

    The Italian and Austrian races provided wheel-to-wheel duels, Charles Leclerc and Hamilton battling at Monza and Max Verstappen tussling with Leclerc at the Red Bull Ring.

    Despite that, it was a season devoid of teeth-gritted title rivalry. A campaign that had a healthy portion of fiery moments (particularly between the Ferrari drivers), but it was unfulfilling for the neutral.

    Germany, Brazil, Italy and Austria hosted thrilling Sundays, and there were other fun-to-watch races. It just lacked a Championship chase with Bottas unable to keep pace with Hamilton, arguably the best F1 driver of all-time, after a good start.

    Mercedes winning 10 of the first 12, eight of which saw Hamilton atop the podium, was a major factor. The tendency for races to slump into procession wasn’t all about the dominance of the cars, though.

    Under current regulations, Formula One cars struggle when following each other closely. This is exaggerated at some tracks and was particularly frustrating at the Mexican Grand Prix.

    There are metaphorical barriers to overtaking, to cars sticking on the rear wing of their adversary. This is something the sport needs to correct in the coming seasons.

     

    Young Talents

    An influx of young talent was one of the biggest positives about the 2019 season. The next generation of title contenders are set.

    It goes well beyond the burgeoning Leclerc-Verstappen contest, spreading down the grid to Alex Albon at Red Bull, Lando Norris at McLaren and George Russell at Williams. All three impressed last season.

    Renault have landed 23-year-old Esteban Ocon for 2020 after he was mystifyingly without a seat in 2019. Carlos Sainz, the driver of the year for many, is only 25.

    Nicholas Latifi will be Russell’s teammate this year, and Pierre Gasly – despite a very difficult 2019 season both professionally and personally – heads into the campaign on a positive note after a second-place finish in Brazil.

    Following the development these young talents was one of the highlights in 2019. It gives something to watch over in 2020 too.

    They won’t all enjoy stellar seasons, but this fresh cohort of Formula One drivers are jostling for favour ahead of seats potentially opening up on the top teams and looking to lay down a marker before the sport undergoes severe alterations for 2021.

    Norris and Sainz will continue their tight-fought duel at McLaren, and Ocon returns with a point to prove alongside the always entertaining Daniel Ricciardo.

    Russell has been suggested as a Bottas replacement in the not too distant future – it will be great to see him with a teammate who can really challenge him in Latifi.

    The grid is filled with likeable drivers. There are plenty looking to make a career, and several veterans determined to prove they are still quicker than these youngsters a decade or more younger than them.

     

    Regulations Similar

    Referred to as ‘evolution, not revolution’ on Formula One’s website, the regulation changes are subtle for 2020 before the overhaul in 2021.

    The chequered flag returns in 2020 following controversy at Suzuka. A light panel replaced the flag for 2019 (though the flag was often waved too), but a glitch caused the race to finish a lap early in Japan.

    The trusty flag returns for the new season. It’s not exactly a game-changer for fans.

    There will be longer curfews for mechanics, less testing (but young drivers will be used more), no screens to hide the car testing and less electronic assistance at starts. Teams can keep less fuel outside the tank, too.

    None of the aforementioned impact the Sunday racing that much, but an extra MGU-K will reduce penalties. Brake ducts now must be designed by the teams themselves rather than bought in.

    When it comes to close combat, a restriction on metal at the end of the front wing should mean fewer punctures and hopefully empower drivers to go wheel-to-wheel.

    The snazzily named ‘shark fins’ sound a lot more important than they are. It’s meant to help fans distinguish between drivers, but the impact on the performance will be minute.

    Changes for 2020 are no more than fiddling round the edges. There’s nothing that’s going to throw up drastically different performances or mix up the grid.

     

    More Of The Same?

    Mercedes are the 2/5 betting favourites to make it seven Constructors’ Championships on the bounce.

    Hamilton is 7/4 to match Michael Schumacher’s tally, comfortably ahead of his teammate Bottas and Red Bull’s Verstappen, who are both at 7/2.

    A new season brings a whole set of uncertainties. Stark changes to the balance of power in Formula One are improbable, however – that’s much more likely in 2021.

    For now, the riches of the big three teams, and largely similar regulations, favour the status quo.

    Formula 1
    Photo credit: AP Photo / Joan Monfort

    McLaren, who had a brilliant 2019, and Renault, who are eyeing a return to the top, both have a chance at sneaking into serious contention, but it might be a year too soon.

    The 2019 campaign showed everyone how far the upper-midfield teams have to go before they can be consistently challenging for podium finishes.

    Fans hoping to see more of Hamilton’s best Grand Prix wins or individual enthralling races have every reason to look forward to the 2020 Formula One season.

    If it’s a major shake up you’re seeking, this probably isn’t the season that your wish will be granted.

     

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Joan Monfort / AP Photo*

    February 20, 2020
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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    The NFL Draft is a year-round process. Scouts commit hour upon hour to watching college games.

    Finding a late-round gem is the dream, but it’s the first-round selections where there’s the most pressure. NFL front offices are defined by their first-round picks, particularly if they are lucky enough (or bad enough) to be picking early on.

    Hunting for a franchise quarterback or a special talent to fix a dire need, the first-round NFL Draft picks arrive in the league with great expectation.

    Their performances, right from their NFL debut onwards, will be analysed in-depth and the fan base will be desperate for them to succeed. Failure to hit with first-round picks can leave franchises in the doldrums.

    While the rumour mill gives a good idea of who will go in the first round, there are always some surprises. Here are the 10 most shocking NFL first-round draft picks…

     

    Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland Raiders, 2009

    Certainly one of the greatest names in NFL Draft history, the Oakland Raiders took Darrius Heyward-Bey with the seventh pick in 2009. Al Davis had a penchant for the surprising on draft night, and Heyward-Bey might just be the pick of the bunch.

    The wide receiver had 13 touchdowns in three college seasons. His elite speed at the combine lured in the Raiders, but it proved to be a mistake as Heyward-Bey registered just 11 touchdowns in four seasons with Oakland.

    https://www.888sport.com/blog/football-prediction

    Mario Williams, Houston Texans, 2006

    The first overall pick is usually known well in advance. Sometimes teams sit on the fence for a bit, but it’s usually public knowledge who is going first overall well before the draft starts.

    The 2006 draft wasn’t like others. Intrigue grew around the Houston Texans’ selection as draft day approached. A showdown with the 49ers had been seen as the ‘Reggie Bush Bowl’, such was the certainty that he’d go first overall.

    Houston cooled on Bush, however, and ended up taking Mario Williams. It raised eyebrows at the time but proved to be a great pick.

    Vernon Gholston, New York Jets, 2008

    The New York Jets were sucked in by Vernon Gholston’s pre-draft workouts. They took Gholston with the sixth overall pick despite minimal proof he was of NFL quality in college.

    He managed just five starts across his three seasons in the NFL. It was a gamble by the Jets, and one that absolutely did not pay off.

    The error is only exaggerated by the players taken after Gholston, including Pro Bowlers DeSean Jackson and Aqib Talib and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Flacco.

     

    Tommy Maddox, Denver Broncos, 1992

    A conflict between starting quarterback John Elway and the Denver Broncos might have been what led to Tommy Maddox going 25th overall in 1992.

    Picking a young quarterback to learn from a veteran is commonplace, but this was an unorthodox time to do so.

    The Broncos had gone deep into the playoffs in the previous season. A player to help them immediately seemed most likely. Instead, they shocked the league and took a quarterback with minimal college success.

     

    Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos, 2010

    Almost two decades after the Maddox shocker, the Denver Broncos once again stunned the NFL on draft night with a high-risk quarterback selection in the first round.

    Now a baseball player, Tim Tebow was a controversial athlete in college, even getting a rule named after him. As he headed for the draft, Tebow was expected to go in the third round, and very few saw him as a late-first round selection.

    The Broncos did. Denver traded second, third and fourth round selections to trade up and select Tebow. He played just two seasons for the Broncos and was quickly out of the league.

    Tim Tebow was a shock NFL Draft first round pick
    Photo credit: AP Photo / Ed Andrieski

    Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings, 1998

    This one is a bit different from the others. Randy Moss going 21st overall was a surprise because many expected him to go way earlier. One of the greatest players to play in the NFL wasn’t even the first wide receiver taken in the 1998 draft.

    It would be a mistake to overlook the off-field issues that saw Moss fall to Minnesota. They didn’t hesitate to take him, though, and he repaid that faith with an Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign and a Hall of Fame career.

    Two of Moss’ former teams feature in our best NFL playoff comebacks.

     

    John Avery, Miami Dolphins, 1998

    Eight selections after Minnesota took Moss, the Miami Dolphins opted for John Avery. Avery, like others on this list, earned support for his pre-draft workouts despite never starring in college.

    He survived just one year in Miami before being dealt. The criticism the Dolphins received at the time only got worse as his rookie season went on.

    Ricky Williams, New Orleans Saints, 1999

    Moves don’t come much more ‘all-in’ than what the Saints did to land Ricky Williams. New Orleans gave up their first, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh-round picks in the 1999 draft and their first and third rounders in the 2000 draft.

    Williams had been a college superstar and was destined to go high. Being fifth overall was fair, but what the Saints gave up was stunning. He had a decent NFL career, though nothing worthy of the draft capital given up.

     

    James Fletcher, Miami Dolphins, 2001

    Three years after the Avery pick, the Dolphins were the talk of the first round once again when they took cornerback James Fletcher 25th overall.

    Fletcher had a solid NFL career, but it was his fit on the Dolphins that made this a weird move. Miami already had two elite corners and had plenty of work to do on the rest of the roster.

    Their franchise history could look very different if they took Drew Brees, who is in the conversation as the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Brees was taken seven picks later.

     

    Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 2019

    With Kyler Murray going first overall, Dwayne Haskins looked set to go to the New York Giants with the sixth pick. Looking for their Eli Manning replacement, the Giants instead opted for Daniel Jones, who had been underwhelming in college.

    New York also owned the 17th pick in the draft. They took Dexter Lawrence with that selection, but probably could have waited for Jones and taken Josh Allen or Devin Bush with the sixth pick.

     

    *Credit for the main photo belongs to Mark Humphrey / AP Photo*

    February 20, 2020
    Body

    Sam is a sports tipster, specialising in the Premier League and Champions League.

    He covers most sports, including cricket and Formula One. Sam particularly enjoys those on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean – notably MLB and NBA.

    Watching, writing and talking about sports betting takes up most of his time, whether that is for a day out at T20 Finals Day or a long night of basketball.

    Having been writing for several years, Sam has been working with 888Sport since 2016, contributing multiple articles per week to the blog.

    Sam Cox
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