At 4m1½f, Newcastle’s Eider Chase is one of the toughest handicaps for staying chasers on the National Hunt calendar. The contest is a big preparation race for both the Grand National at Aintree, the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and also the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter.
The Eider Chase: 5 Famous Winners at Newcastle
First run in 1952, unfortunately the race has been abandoned many times due to changing weather conditions, with snow, frost and waterlogging persistently causing issues for the track in February. It’s often run on heavy ground and the Class 2 handicap chase is open to chasers aged five and older, with 26 fences to be navigated. Below, we will take a look at five of the most famous Eider Chase winners over the years.
Eider Chase Winners: Comply Or Die
Probably the most famous winner of the lot is Comply Or Die, who went on to win the Aintree Grand National after landing the Eider Chase a couple of months prior at odds of 11/1. Trained by David Pipe and ridden by Timmy Murphy, the son of Old Vic landed the marathon test off a mark of 139, carrying top weight to victory on the day in the manner of a very classy horse.
As he could race off the same mark in the Grand National two months later, it was no surprise that he went off the 7/1 joint-favourite and he made a mockery of the mark again. Runner-up to Mon Mome off 154 a year later, that was his last big run but what a servant he was.
Eider Chase Winners: Highland Wedding
The most successful Eider winner, netting the race three times in a row between 1966 and 1969, with the 1968 renewal abandoned due to bad snow. Clearly a ferocious and hardy competitor, Highland Wedding is another who went on to taste Aintree Grand National success in 1969. He was trained by Toby Balding, who is part of an elite club of trainers to have won the Grand National, the Cheltenham Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle.
Eider Chase Winners: Wyndburgh
Another multiple winner of the contest in 1957 and 1958, Wyndburgh won the Eider unchallenged in very testing conditions in 1958 before going on to take his chance in the world’s biggest race at Aintree. He didn’t go on to win the Grand National but he will always go down in Eider Chase folklore as one of the greats.
Eider Chase Winners: Win My Wings
Christian Williams has had great success in the race in recent years, winning it in 2022 and 2023. He first won it with Win My Wings off a mark of 132 and the mare went on to defy an 8lb higher mark when winning the Scottish Grand National at Ayr soon after.
Eider Chase Winners: Kitty’s Light
Dour stayer Kitty’s Light also won the race for Christian Williams and he’s another fan favourite. He defied a mark of 132 in the race in 2023 and he also went on to win the Scottish Grand National before landing the hat-trick in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown.
By Adrian Mills
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