'This race fits in perfectly' - Edwardstone primed to play the star role again

Tuesday: 2.30 Kempton
Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase | Grade 2 | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Edwardstone never garnered the recognition his performances merited last season despite dominating the two-mile novice chase scene in Britain. However, any remaining critics were silenced after a brilliant performance in the Tingle Creek 24 days ago that prompted his official rating to climb from 161 to 170.

There are various possible reasons why Edwardstone failed to capture the public’s imagination prior to Sandown. Perhaps it was his inferior hurdles record in two lower-quality campaigns previously, or his lesser-known connections and the nationality of his trainer. Another factor might have been his Aintree loss in April in which he was brushed aside by a new Irish-trained rival in Gentleman De Mee.

With hindsight, Aintree was clearly a race too far following a busy campaign, and Edwardstone emphatically settled the score with Gentleman De Mee in the Tingle Creek. More pertinent still was the fact he conquered a master of Sandown in Greaneteen in a time 1.1sec quicker than the earlier Grade 1 novice chase on the card.

Greaneteen loves Sandown and the returning Edwardstone pummelled his race-fit opponent in his own backyard by nine lengths.

That Greaneteen equalled the Racing Post Rating he produced when victorious in the previous running (168) infers we should take a strong view of the form, and a repeat performance from Edwardstone in the Desert Orchid should see odds-on backers collect.

However, Nube Negra is no slouch and will keep Edwardstone honest providing conditions remain relatively dry in a race that can be billed as a match between the pair on the form book and official ratings.

Nube Negra advertised his potential at the highest level when dethroning the great Altior in this a couple of seasons ago, and the market could barely split this eight-year-old and Edwardstone when the pair were due to clash in the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Edwardstone missed the Shloer due to fast ground and the race essentially became a schooling session for Nube Negra to prance around against two lesser runners at odds of 1-10.

While Nube Negra is renowned for producing his best efforts fresh and returns following just a 44-day break, the weakness of the Shloer might have preserved his freshness.

Of the remaining runners, Editeur Du Gite is the only plausible pace angle and will be dangerous if picking up a soft lead. If the ground is wetter than Nube Negra will appreciate, Editeur Du Gite rates a value play in the 'without the favourite' market in receipt of 6lb from the big guns.
Race analysis by Robbie Wilders

Edwardstone out to cement Champion Chase claims

Edwardstone is Britain's shortest-priced contender for the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase, yet even after an emphatic comeback victory in the Tingle Creek Chase, there has been one or two suggestions he could be an even greater force beyond two miles over fences.

Trainer Alan King is minded to mute those suggestions for the time being and is working back from the Champion Chase, for which Edwardstone is a top-priced 5-2 second favourite behind even-money market leader and last year's winner Energumene.

"Much has been written about him since he won the Tingle Creek and I have to say I've stopped reading most of it, including suggestions that he could or should step up in trip – I'm not even thinking about that, there is no need at the moment," said King, who won the Desert Orchid with Voy Por Ustedes in 2006 and 2007.

"He's come out of his Tingle Creek win in good form and this race fits in perfectly time-wise," said King. "He went from Sandown on to Kempton last season and if we can get this second run into him it means we can leave him alone through January, with a view to bringing him back in the Game Spirit before Cheltenham."

Skelton looking forward to challenge with Nube Negra

Nube Negra: Desert Orchid Chase winner in 2020Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Nube Negra enjoyed arguably his finest moment when defeating Altior in this race two years ago and the 2021 Champion Chase runner-up comes into this year's race after making the most of Edwardstone's absence when an easy winner of the Shloer Chase last month.

Trainer Dan Skelton had pondered whether to head straight for the Champion Chase after that win but has never been scared of a challenge and has decided this is the ideal time to tackle Edwardstone.

"He's in great form and looks fantastic," said Skelton. "The reason we've decided to come here is that it's a long gap between the Shloer and the Champion Chase and he had nothing more than a canter round at Cheltenham."

The general rule with Nube Negra is the better the ground the better he is, but Skelton had little concern about ground conditions, which were described as soft at Kempton on Tuesday.

He added: "It was officially soft when he beat Altior over two miles around here so he has some nice course form. We know Edwardstone is going to be hard to beat but we're looking forward to it."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Mister Fisher
We’re bringing him back in trip as it’s something we’ve wanted to try with him. It’s a very competitive race and it’s probably not his ground either, but we wanted to give it a try.

David Pipe, trainer of Sizing Pottsie
He's got it to do but he'll like the ground and there's plenty of prize-money to pick up. I don't think he quite got the trip last time but we've been looking forward to putting him over fences.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Dolos
It looks a tough race but he's a hard horse to place so we'll see. He'll probably run before we put him away for the spring.

Gary Moore, trainer of Editeur Du Gite
It's not really the best way round for him but he needs a run and hopefully he'll give a good account of himself.

Reporting by Lewis Porteous

Read the rest of Tuesday's previews:

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1.29 Limerick: Can Gordon Elliott strike again? Analysis and quotes for the Limerick feature

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