Edwardstone remains a possible for the Grand Annual at Cheltenham next week

March 3

Edwardstone participated at five consecutive Cheltenham Festivals until missing the meeting last year, having picked up an infection, but the evergreen 11-year-old looked in good nick on the all-weather gallop at Sharp Ridge this morning, and Alan is seriously considering confirming his entry for the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase next Wednesday.

It was only turning for home that Jonbon and Pic d’Orhy finally shook off the attentions of Edwardstone in last month’s Ascot Chase, and, reflecting on that performance, Alan said:”He ran a super race against two very good horses, but the trip (2m 5f) just found him out.”

Should Alan, who won the Grand Annual with Oh Crick in 2009, give Edwardstone the green light for Cheltenham, Barbury’s stable-star would be switching back to two miles, not having run over that distance since finishing fourth in the Shloer Chase over the same course on his seasonal debut last November.

True, Edwardstone would have to give 4lb to Dan Skelton’s likely favourite Be Aware at Cheltenham, but bookmakers having him priced up at 50-1 in the ante-post lists is bordering on being disrespectful to an 11-times winner who has amassed more than £700,000 in prize money.