Whilst fans of football have to wait for domestic club action to return owing to the break in the fixture list for the first ever winter World Cup out in Qatar, Horse Racing fans have no such problems and after the latest Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, next year’s Queen Mother Champion Chase has a new potential contender.
Having already won the Arkle Chase at Cheltenham back in March, Alan King‘s eight year old Edwardstone more than put himself into the mix by holding off the challenge from defending champion Greaneteen and the fit again Shishkin to take the Tingle Creek prize.
Edwardstone, ridden by jockey Tom Cannon was electric in the race and stormed clear of the chasing pack after completing the second last fence, and ultimately went on to win by nine clear lengths.
Greaneteen finished second, with Shishkin an additional six lengths back, taking third place.
Speaking after the race, a delighted Cannon simply said: “To ride a horse like him, he does the talking for me.”
Shishkin’s performance would have left many watchers disappointed, even though the favourite was competing again for the first time after being diagnosed with a rare bone condition having been pulled up when chosen as the odds on favourite at last March’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, according to the online horse betting experts.
As for Edwardstone, having won the Arkle the prior day, he has had a very frustrating season overall – missing engagements at both the Shloer Chase in Cheltenham back in November, and then in handicap company at Ascot the weekend after as they deemed the ground unsuitable quick. Clearly, the Sandown pre Christmas card has opened up well for him as he registered his second win, to follow up last year’s victory in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase to add another Grade One triumph to his name.
Having finished in second place with Voy Por Ustedes in both 2006 and then 2007, before saddling Kumbeshwar to chase home Sprinter Sacre in 2012, King now finally has his hands on the trophy as 5-1 shot Edwardstone romped to victory in very impressive fashion.
“We’ve been second in it a few times, it means a lot,” a proud and delighted Kigd explained after the meet. “It’s a huge relief to be honest. I said to Tom it wasn’t the be-all and end-all today and don’t be too hard on him if it’s not happening, but he cruised through it.”
People will now be watching to see what the remainder of the season may bring.
