Leading Grade One winning two mile chaser Edwardstone is set to run in the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on 27th December with his trainer Alan King expecting his gelding to show his worth in another hot event.
A horse that has never been given the respect he fully deserves took on a stellar field of runners in the Grade One Tingle Creek on seasonal debut this year, including last year's winner Greaneteen, multiple Grade One winner Shishkin, Aintree Grade One winner Gentleman De Mee and Champion Chase second Funambule Sivola and he went on to take the event by an eased down nine lengths.
The gelding was exceptional last season going over fences, having a slight hiccup on debut when being bought down at Warwick when travelling well, next time out he put things right over the same C&D when taking a decent two mile Novices' Chase.
Stepped up to Grade One company next time out he went on to improve once more to land the Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown, seeing off his closes rivals War Lord and Third Time Lucki by 16 lengths.
With the second and third since going on to frank the form, Edwardstone went to Kempton and also boosted it by making it a hat-trick of wins when landing the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.
He made it four in a row next time out at Warwick in the Grade Two Kingmaker Novices' Chase when easily seeing off Third Time Lucki again.
Sent off favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham festival he was an emphatic winner of the race under a great ride by Tom Cannon.
Looking to finish the season off with a third Grade One and sixth straight win he found Gentleman De Mee too good in the Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree’s Grand National meeting.
Edwardstone is looking to back up his win in the Tingle Creek in the Desert Orchid at Kempton! 🎄
— The Winners Enclosure (@TWEnclosure) December 20, 2022
Will he fend off Nube Negra?
🎥 @RacingTV pic.twitter.com/jz3qPisKAz
Having been pulled out on a few occasions for his seasonal debut this term, he was kept fresh for the Tingle Creek and looked to have improved again for the break.
Now looking to show that run was not a fluke, he makes his second start in open company at Kempton on 27th December, taking on Shloer Chase victor Nube Negra.
(Credit ATR) His rider Tom Cannon said: “Edwardstone is a speedy horse and it will take a good one to beat him. Nube Negra is a good horse though and I’m sure it will be a good spectacle.
“On his day Edwardstone is the quickest horse over two miles you will find and he has got an electric turn of foot when he needs it.“It is another acid test to see where he stands and hopefully he will put his best foot forward as Nube Negra is a quick horse.
“He has won left-handed, right-handed, on flat tracks and undulating tracks so it doesn’t really matter where it is. He is probably slightly better going left-handed but then he has won two Grade Ones going right-handed.
“This is another stepping stone along the way as we know there is a bigger picture at the end of the day."
Cannon added: “He often needs a few races to build him up as he is quite a big individual and that is what slightly surprised me at Sandown.
“It was testament to Alan and his team at home that he turned up in pretty much the same sort of form as last year with a bit left to work on.
“He definitely thrives off his racing and we saw that last season. He showed he doesn’t mind having two runs in December when he followed up his win in the Henry VIII at Kempton Park in the Wayward Lad.
“He likes being kept busy and it keeps the pipes open. It is nice to have a horse like that.
“I’ve been in the lucky position that the horse does the talking for me. He is an easy horse to operate and hopefully he will carry on doing the talking for me.”