22 entries were made on Monday for the £80,000 Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase with the four-timer seeking O’Connell looking to hand his yard a first win in this historic marathon contest.
The last horse to have achieved the Eider and Grand National double was the David Pipe-trained Comply Or Die back in 2008 who is infact the only horse this century to have completed the famous double.
Last year’s race was won in dramatic fashion by Angler’s Crag who stayed on late to win by a neck. He was raised 8lbs for that success but showed signs of a return to form when fourth in the Edinburgh National last time out. Not since the 1960’s has a horse won consecutive renewals of this race.
Collectors Item benefitted greatly for the switch to positive tactics when he landed the Somerset National at Wincanton last time. He is subsequently on a career-high mark off the back of that victory. The Jonjo & A J O’Neill are another training operation who are chasing a first win in the Eider.
The Irish have historically struggled in this contest and are without success in it for over 20 years, but the John C McConnell-trained Bodhisattva and Pat Fahy-trained History Of Fashion will look to buck that trend.
Passing Well is a model of consistency having finished in the first two in each of his previous four starts. He went agonisingly close to regaining the winning thread when beaten a head in the Surrey National at Lingfield last month.
Egbert and Jacks Parrot fought out the finish of the Tommy Whittle Handicap Chase at Haydock just before Christmas with the former coming off best. The latter is 5lbs better off this time and represents the Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero yard who are enjoying a fantastic season.
Latest Eider Handicap Chase odds: O’Connell 6/1, Anglers Crag 8/1, Collectors Item 10/1, Passing Well 10/1, BAR 12/1
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