The Cheltenham Festival concludes today, with a thrilling edition of the Gold Cup lighting up Day 4 at the centrepiece of the jumps racing year. However, the racing roadshow continues to roll over the weekend, with Saturday afternoon seeing the 2025 edition of the biggest race of the season at the Staffordshire venue of Uttoxeter.
Whilst not so classy as the headline act at the Cheltenham Festival, this 4m2f event has a couple of links with the most prestigious staying chase of the season. The Thinker (1986) and Synchronised (2010) both followed up Midlands National success with Cheltenham Gold Cup glory later in their careers.
Whether there is anything of Gold Cup calibre in the 2025 lineup remains to be seen. However, we have an intriguing 17-runner field set to go to post, including a few contenders who have already hit the mark in valuable staying handicaps.
Knockanore Goes for More Success
It’s 6/1 the field in a typically competitive renewal of this £160,000 contest, with the market currently headed by the eight-year-old Knockanore. Hailing from the Herefordshire yard of Ryan Potter, this consistent sort has finished in the first three in five of his seven outings over fences and took his form to new heights last time out at Newcastle.
Setting out over 4m+ for the first time in the Eider Chase, Knockanore sprouted wings over the additional distance to match his 16/1 starting price with a resounding 16-length winning margin. That display provoked a 10lb rise in the handicap, but given the manner of that performance, that may not be enough to prevent him from going very close to a famous handicap double.
Knockaknore wins the Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase
Nicely done Freddie#ITVRacing | @NewcastleRaces | @fgmitchell1994 pic.twitter.com/iSosAyJ9ZW
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) February 22, 2025
Philson Run followed his 2005 Midlands National success with victory in the 2006 Eider Chase, whilst five years split the 1990 Midlands National win of Willsford and his 1995 victory in the Newcastle race. As of 2024, 1997 hero Seven Towers is the only horse to win both races in the same season, but plenty will support the in-form Knockanore to join him.
Welsh National Champ Amongst the Opposition
The Eider Chase/Midlands Grand National double would represent a fine achievement for Knockanore and the relatively small Ryan Potter operation. However, he is unlikely to have things all his own way. In addition to a 10lb penalty and 25 fences, he must overcome a field of stamina-laden stars, including:
Mr Vango
The definition of the dour, galloping, plodder. Mr Vango isn’t particularly quick. However, stamina, rather than speed, is the order of the day in this contest, and this Sara Bradstock runner certainly does stay. A 60-length winner at Exeter in February 2024, he arrives seeking a hat-trick following wins in the London National at Sandown and Haydock’s Peter Marsh Chase.
Apple Away
Hot on the heels of success at the Cheltenham Festival, Lucinda Russell goes for more big-race glory with this talented eight-year-old mare. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles, she hasn’t quite hit those heights in her chasing career but suggested this step up in trip may suit when staying on for second over 3m4½f last time out at Haydock.
Fortunedefortunata
It wouldn’t be a big Saturday event without a significant Irish Challenge. Leading the Emerald Isle’s assault on the Midlands is this unexposed chaser from the powerful Gordon Elliott operation. Raced only four times over fences, he comfortably coped with a mark of 120 on his handicap chase debut at Punchestown. He’s up to 130 here, but there may very well be more to come.
Galia Des Liteaux
Dan Skelton has yet to claim Midlands Grand National glory. This would be a good year to break his duck, as the winner’s share of the prize money would help in his bid to become British Champion Trainer. Rated as high as 146 in her pomp, Galia Des Liteaux is down to 137 for this assignment and finished a creditable eighth in the 2024 Aintree Grand National.
Val Dancer
Having powered home late to claim Welsh National gold at Chepstow in December, this Mel Rowley bids to add another big prize to his haul. It’s a tall order, but Bonanza Boy, Potters Corner, Rag Trade, and Synchronised all bagged both races during their careers.
Will runaway Eider winner Knockanore prove too good? Will one of the mares have his measure? Can Val Danver add his name to the list of Welsh and Midlands Grand National winners? Or does the winner lurk elsewhere in the field? 3 pm on Saturday is the time to find out.
