Edwardstone leads final day Celebration

The 2025/26 National Hunt season might now be consigned to the history books, but the final day of the campaign will live long in the memory for Alan and his team after stable star Edwardstone registered the fourth Grade One success of his career with victory in the bet365 Celebration Chase.

Despite being the grand old age of 12, the gelded son of Kayf Tara once again demonstrated that the fire still burns brightly after putting his younger rivals in the shade in the two mile test.

And with it means that Edwardstone has now completed the clean sweep of Grade One wins over course and distance following his victories in the Betfair Tingle Creek in 2022 and Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase in 2021.

It had already been a notable campaign for Edwardstone following his Grade Two victory in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton Park back in January, but he was to save the best until last when getting the better of an entertaining battle with JPR One by a head much to the delight of many in the packed stands.

Following the race it had been mentioned that the win could be Edwardstone’s potential swansong, however Alan has stressed that no decision regarding his future has been made.

Alan said: “It was a terrific day. It was sad that Dan (Skelton) lost Thistle Ask as that took a bit of gloss of the race, but we couldn’t do anymore than what we did. It was lovely to see him travel, and jump so well, and battle.

“Sandown Park is a real good test of a jumper and he is a very good jumper. He has run some terrific races around there, but it probably suits his style of racing. A stiff two miles is probably ideal for him and the race at Plumpton before really revved him up.

“It really was quite an emotional walk back down from the stands and it is a day we won’t forget.

“I would like to keep going, but we will discuss things over the summer. He will go back home and time will tell what we do.

“At the moment no decision has been made and it hasn’t even been approached.”

Switching back to the Flat there was to be no winning return to action at Sandown Park on Friday for Spyce, who finished fifth in the Group Three bet365 Classic Trial.

However, it was a run that pleased Alan and he will now look to take aim at the valuable Trade Nation London Gold Cup at Newbury on May 16th with the son of Too Darn Hot.

Alan said: “I was pretty happy with Sypce. He was maybe a bit fresh early and he over raced in the first two furlongs, but that run will take the freshness out of him.

“I think the plan, if we are happy with him, is to go to Newbury for the London Gold Cup. That might be a stepping stone to try and get him to Royal Ascot.

“When I spoke to Rossa (Ryan) the other night he thought that race might be quite a good fit for him.”

While Alan has several of his flat team entered up this week he will be keeping a close eye on the weather before firming up plans.

Alan said: “We have decided not to run Alcarath at Epsom on Tuesday as it was too firm. I’ve got Paradias and Daiquiri Bay in at Newmarket, but I would like to see a drop of rain.

“Galaxy Star is entered in the Daisy Warwick down at Goodwood. She is very difficult to place at the moment, but we will see about that.

“We won’t have a huge number of runners this week. I might send Heroics to Southwell on Thursday as it will be fine on the all-weather for him and then he will be handicapped to run on the turf when the rain does come.”