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14:45 Newcastle

Saturday 22 February 2020

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:3017:05

Vertem Eider Handicap Chase

5YO plus | Class 2 | 4m 1f 56y | 12 Runners | Turf

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Selected odds by:

Prime Venture^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 136| BF

7/1

Yet to win over fences (0-11) and beaten at short odds in an Exeter novices' (3m, heavy) latest; that said, possesses the skill-set for such testing conditions as shown when finishing fourth of 17 (beaten 4¼L) in the Welsh National (3m6½f, heavy).

Form: 49-44F2

Fortified Bay^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish| OR: 132| C

14/1

On a sharp upward curve over fences (2-4), backing up his Boxing Day Market Rasen win (form franked) with a flawless display over 2m7½f here (soft) 25 days ago; 7lb higher in a more competitive race (retains cheekpeices).

Form: 224511

Shanroe Santos^b⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: L Wadham| OR: 131

16/1

Went close in a four-runner affair at Carlisle (3m2f, heavy) on his penultimate start and remains just below his last winning mark (Fontwell, November 2018); was always in rear in a veterans' race at Sandown latest; likely to find others stronger.

Form: 74-4V29

Calipso Collonges^t⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 130

11/2

Soft ground winner at Uttoxeter (2m4f) in late 2018; made a slow start to the current season before raising his game in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock (3m1½f, heavy) prior to Christmas - beaten 13L by the thriving Lord Du Mesnil.

Form: 126-462

Petite Power^t⁴²

Age: 11| Weight: 11-6| J: Liam Harrison⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 130

5/1

Started the season on a productive note winning at Cheltenham (3m1f) & Uttoxeter (3m2f, heavy), rising a combined total of 10lb-15lb; kept on from an unpromising position to finish third (beaten 17½L) in the Classic Chase at Warwick (3m5½f, soft).

Form: 9/7-1123

Very First Time²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| C

6/1

Enjoying a new lease of life with the Skelton's (3-6); finished fourth to Hugo 'N Taz (beaten 19L) in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (3m3½f, soft) on Boxing Day; faces a 7lb rise for a subsequent 6L win at Doncaster (3m, good to soft).

Form: 531141

Ascot De Bruyere^p²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny McMenamin⁽³⁾| T: J Ewart| OR: 127| C

25/1

Three-time Newcastle winner (2m4f-2m7½f); clobbered by the handicapper following his 18L romp (beat Cave Top by 18L) in February 2019; hasn't been at his best so far this season; held by Fortified Bay & Glittering Love on recent form.

Form: 112-364

Glittering Love^p1²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 125

10/1

Won four on the spin in testing conditions (2m4f-3m) prior to Christmas, climbing steadily in the weights as a result (32lb); finished 13L third to Fortified Bay (at levels) here 25 days ago; stamina reserves untested at 4m; cheekpieces applied.

Form: 1111-F3

Donna's Delight^p³⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 121

10/1

Brother to the 4m winner Knockanrawley; showed marked improvement for wind surgery with a gritty front-running display at Ayr (3m3f, heavy) last month; looks to be fairly weighted from a 6lb higher mark; must enter the thought process.

Form: 333-451

Hugo 'n Taz^t⁵⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 120

7/1

Won just once in 19 starts for Denis Hogan; had wind surgery after joining David Pipe for £19,000 in August 2019; stayed on well when making a winning stable debut in the Lincolnshire National at Market Rasen (3m3½f) on Boxing Day; 8lb higher.

Form: 58-52P1

Alminar^b,t³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke| OR: 119

10/1

Progressive chaser; posted a career best when scoring for the second time over fences (Chepstow 2m7½f, heavy) six weeks ago, beating Troed Y Melin by 5L; 7lb higher in a more competitive race; trainer is well known for his successful northern raids.

Form: 8431-31

Financial Outcome^t²⁸

10/1

Won for the first time under rules at Doncaster (3m2f, soft) in January, galloping all over his three rivals (28L winner); lost all chance when blundering four out (rider lost irons) at Uttoxeter (3m, heavy) latest; fresh from wind surgery.

Form: 2-34413

Forecasts

Petite Power (5/1), Calipso Collonges (11/2), Very First Time (6/1), Hugo 'n Taz (7/1), Prime Venture (7/1), Donna's Delight (10/1), Financial Outcome (10/1), Alminar (10/1), Glittering Love (10/1), Fortified Bay (14/1), Shanroe Santos (16/1), Ascot De Bruyere (25/1)

This isn't a vintage renewal of the Eider Chase. Top-weight Prime Venture has the required skill-set for the forecast testing conditions (fourth in the Welsh and Midlands Nationals) along with the Classic Chase third Petite Power. However, the door is ajar for an up-and-coming chaser. The Lincolnshire National winner Hugo 'n Taz has proved a shrewd acquisition for David Pipe, while another clean-winded runner DONNA'S DELIGHT could well deliver the goods for his locally-based owner. A brother to the 4m winner Knockanrawley, Sandy Thomson's charge remains on an attractive handicap mark after ploughing through the mud to score at Ayr (3m3f) five weeks ago.