How a 'shimmy' ensured British banker Edwardstone could deliver in the Arkle

Tuesday: Arkle Trophy, Cheltenham

The term British banker lost some of its appeal after last season’s battering from the Irish but, on a day when the home side’s leading prospects flourished, Edwardstone and Tom Cannon delivered a sublime performance to etch their names in Cheltenham Festival history.

Shishkin was the short-priced ace in the Sporting Life Arkle pack last season but the rise to stardom of Edwardstone, sent off a 5-2 favourite, has not quite been as straightforward. His novice chase campaign started last season, with an unseat at Doncaster, and in November he ended up on the floor again when brought down at Warwick.

The persistence to stay over fences was rewarded, with five consecutive wins helping him climb to the top of the two-mile novice chasing tree, but his pinnacle moment was a combination of brilliance and drama.

It was the fourth fence which caught him out at Doncaster and as Brave Seasca came down at the fourth obstacle it took a quick reaction from Cannon – in his own words, a “shimmy” – to steer him out of trouble as the rival flipped on his back. This time they avoided danger; Saint Sam and Sean O’Keeffe did not.

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Now clear from trouble, Edwardstone, owned by Robert Abrey and Ian Thurtle, was back in his trademark strong-travelling and slick-jumping rhythm. He moved past the leader, and Ireland’s best chance, Riviere D'Etel, on the swing for home and with two brave leaps had done enough to seal it.

“I had flashbacks to Warwick at the start of the season but he learnt from it, he did a bit of a shimmy while that day he galloped into the horse,” reflected Cannon. “Maybe things happen for a reason.

"From there I had enough horse underneath and we came together a little bit [with Riviere D'Etel] and he helped me out at the last – I didn’t see a thing but, luckily, he did. I’m delighted, I just need to sit down and take everything in."

Cannon is riding at Huntingdon on Wednesday so will avoid “going mad” with celebrations, instead suggesting he would be toasting his first Cheltenham Festival success with a few cans of Pepsi Max.

“Every jockey dreams of a winner here and the fact it has happened hasn’t sunk in,” he added. “It’s all a bit of a blur, my main thing was reminding myself to weigh in so it was done and dusted.

“For me it feels great, a long time coming, but it doesn’t matter how well you are doing in this game, it always feels like you are treading water. I’ll enjoy the moment today and hopefully build on it and see what else we can do.”

King, celebrating his first winner at the meeting since Uxizandre’s Ryanair success in 2015, added: “There was plenty going on around him. We missed the carnage at the fourth. I was only half watching at the time, but I thought we could have easily been brought down there. Maybe luck was on our side but he has done it really well and Tom has given him a cracking ride.

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“Those big handicap hurdles just made him last year, as has jumping a fence. He’s always had the potential, but these good horses don’t happen overnight. It’s been a team effort.

“It’s a relief, it hasn’t really sunk in yet but it will later. Thank God it was the second race on the first day and I’m not waiting forever. I don’t know about Aintree, we will enjoy today first.”

Gabynako remains the only horse to have been supplemented at this season’s Cheltenham Festival and the £8,000 fee paid on Sunday was well spent as the Gavin Cromwell-trained runner scooped £38,610 for finishing second.

The trainer said: “We’re delighted with that, supplementing him was a bit of a gamble and we weren’t sure about the two miles. On the whole, he jumped well and we knew he’d stay well as long as he was in his comfort zone through the race so we’re thrilled with the run.”

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