Portrait the Eider King at Newcastle Portrait King delivered the goods for Co. Kildare trainer Maurice Phelan when justifying 11/4 favouritism in the featured Betfred Eider Chase at Newcastle this afternoon. Denis O'Regan gave the winner a superb ride in the four mile stamina test, although he looked in trouble when Posh Bird swept past him after the second last. The eventual winner wasn't foot-perfect at the final obstacle either but picked up well for his rider's urgings and was well on top at the line, scoring by three lengths. Captain Americo plugged on stoutly for third, another 11 lengths away. At seven years old, Maurice Phelan's runner was the youngest horse in the field and Ireland's first winner of the Eider since 2002. O'Regan said: "I got the ride as a spare ride late on Friday, and my agent was quick on the button. It's a fantastic race to win. "He jumped so well and travelled so well. Once I got stuck into him, he rallied underneath me. If you luck's in, it's in."
