GORDON RICHARDS can end a surprisingly long wait by lifting the Tote Eider Handicap Chase at Newcastle today with Parsons Boy. Few big long distance chases have eluded the Greystoke trainer in his 33 years with a licence.

He has landed the Grand National and its Scottish equivalent twice each, the King George VI Chase three times and most of the other top chases in the programme book at least once.

But this four mile one furlong contest has so far eluded him, although he went close in 1990 when The Langholm Dyer finished second to Jelupe.

Parsons Boy has the credentials to go one better this year. The gelding will be ideally suited by this trip, having stayed on remorselessly to run his rivals into the ground over three and a half miles at Haydock last time.

He is a progressive eight year old, who has won six of his last seven races and is improving at a rate too fast for the handicapper to catch up with him.

His form looks solid as he has been running against and beating better rivals than the likes of Seven Towers, Into The Red, Druid's Brook and Pink Gin.

Best outsider could be Matt Reid who warmed up with a fine third in a hunter chase at Wetherby a fortnight ago. Kieran Gaule is a very interesting jockey booking for the 13 year old who looks to have been laid out for this £35,000 added contest.

Leading Grand National hope Maamur is worth opposing on his belated reappearance in the Michael Page Finance Handicap Chase at Warwick.

Smart staying chaser though he may be, the nine year old is odds on to be outspeeded over this two and a half mile trip, particularly with the ground drying up all the while. Useful novice Around The Gale will be far more at home at the distance and has shown enough in his three outings over fences to suggest he can take full advantage of the 19lb he receives from the top weight.

Marching Marquis can land the Colin Davies Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow.