EDWARDSTONE powered to the accolade of Britain’s best two-miler over fences with a nine-length triumph in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Sandown Park punters sent last season’s Arkle Challenge Trophy hero off at 5-1 for his first foray out of novice chases, with Shishkin, diagnosed with a bone disorder after pulling up in Cheltenham’s Queen Mother Champion Chase, the 6-5 favourite and 2021 Tingle Creek hero Greaneteen next best at 2-1.
But Tom Cannon’s mount belied his outsider-of-three status – the remaining trio in the six-runner line-up went off at double-figure odds – lengthening away from the defending champion, who had six lengths in hand of the Nicky Henderson-saddled market leader.
Drying ground at Ascot prompted Alan King to scratch the eight-year-old from his intended comeback two weeks earlier, and the trainer explained: “He’s a big, heavy horse and that’s why we couldn’t risk him.
“There has been a lot said about it, but we do know what we’re doing with these horses and I get slightly miffed by some of the comments.”
Ladbrokes cut Edwardstone to 7-2 second favourite (from 12-1) for the Queen Mother Champion Chase next March, also shortening Willie Mullins' incumbent Energumene to 6-4 at the head of the betting.
“We’re working back from the Queen Mother – whether we go one or two runs – but it’s a nice problem to have,” added King, who had used Henderson’s gallops as Edwardstone worked towards his comeback.
“I owe Nicky a huge ‘thank you’ for letting me take him to Seven Barrows last. I had sent him one case of wine – I’m going to have to send him a second one now!”
While Paul Nicholls conceded Greaneteen had been “beaten by a better horse on the day”, Nicky Henderson unveiled a plan to step Shishkin up in distance.
“I honestly don’t think he’s a two-miler any more,” he said.
“He was flat to the boards and he needs to go up in trip. How far up, I don’t know, but if the entries for Cheltenham were today he’d be more likely to be in the Gold Cup than the Queen Mother.”
Henderson’s Jonbon is now the 6-4 favourite for the Arkle Trophy at the 2023 Cheltenham Festival on the back of an eight-length margin in the top-level Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
“I’ve never won the Arkle,” said Jonbon’s owner JP McManus, who purchased the ex-point-t-pointer for a record £570,000.
“I was delighted with the performance. He seemed to cost plenty on the day, but we’re having a lot of fun. Long may it last!”
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