Edwardstone unseated jockey Tom Cannon at the fifth fence in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton on December 27; trainer Alan King now rerouting last year's Arkle winner to Ascot for Clarence House Chase, live on Sky Sports Racing on January 21
Monday 2 January 2023 13:38, UK
Edwardstone will run in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 21 following his mishap in the Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas.
Alan King is keen to keep last season's Arkle winner busy, given he only got as far as the fifth fence before unseating Tom Cannon.
Having been thwarted in attempts to run him at Cheltenham and Ascot before his Tingle Creek success, King feels he needs plenty of racing to stay happy.
"He's 100 per cent. He bounced out the following morning," King told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast. "He's been cantering away, he schooled this morning, jumped six fences and was foot-perfect.
"He was foot-perfect jumping around Kempton - after he'd got rid of Tom. I just think he was a little bit fresh last week since the Tingle Creek.
"We hadn't done a lot with him to try to get him there in good form but I just think he was a little bit gung-ho.
"Anyway, he's going to do plenty of work and hopefully he'll head to Ascot on the 21st.
"He's very full of himself, quite boisterous. Ascot will be the plan all being well and we'll look at the Game Spirit in between (Ascot and Cheltenham)."
