Edwardstone will now attempt to get back on track at Ascot

January 5

Alan chose New Year’s post celebrations to disclose that Edwardstone, happily none the worse for his early exit at Kempton over Christmas, will attempt to get back on track in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 21.

This was the race in which Shishkin beat Energumene in one of THE races of last season, but, to the delight of the Irish, Energumene, who is again entered for this year’s renewal, gained his revenge on Shishkin in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Alan needs no reminding that Edwardstone got no further than the fifth fence in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton nine days ago before unseating Tom Cannon, but he reported that our stable-star “bounced out 100% the following morning.”

He added:”Edwardstone was denied a race at both Cheltenham and Ascot by the weather, but he has been cantering away since and was foot-perfect when he schooled over six fences earlier this week.

“Maybe Edwardstone was just a bit too fresh and a little gung-ho at Kempton, but he never put a foot wrong when he carried on jumping the fences after getting rid of Tom. He’s been full of himself since at home, so all being well at Ascot, I’d still be in favour of taking in the Game Spirit at Newbury (Feb 11) before Cheltenham.”

Edwardstone, who is 3-1 second favourite to Energumene for the Champion, will be meeting everything at level weights at Ascot, and Alan takes the view that “he is a horse who wants racing rather than wrapping up in cotton wool,” pointing out “he thrived on a busy campaign last season.”