Champion Chase Fancy Edwardstone Suffers Cheltenahm Setback

Edwardstone only has the 2022 Champion Chaser Energumene ahead of him in the betting for the day two Cheltenham Festival feature, but his trainer, Alan King, has reported that last season’s Arkle winner has been recovering from a bruised foot after his last run in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot.

Not Ideal Preparation With Five Weeks Till The Festival

Alan King, who won the Champion Chase in 2007 with Voy Por Ustedes, has a leading chance of adding to that success with his talented chaser Edwardstone, but he broke the news today that his star 2m chaser has been suffering from a bruised foot since his hard-fought second in to Editeur Du Gite in the Clarence House Chase at Cheltenham last month.

Connections are saying it’s only a small setback and has not impacted his Cheltenham Festival preparation, but exchange punters are still treading carefully with the horse out to 3.60 (just over 5/2).

Edwardstone is still as short as 13/8 with the fixed odds bookmakers and a best-priced @ 2/1 with BetVictor.

The 9 year-old, who will be looking up uphold the good record that Arkle winners have when progressing to the Champion Chase, was reported to have been lame for much of last week

He’s since had his shoe replaced since and recent x-rays have not shown up any further issues, so his supporters can breathe a sigh of relief as he’s still on track to head to the Festival.

Trainer Alan King told the Weekender “Edwardstone was unfortunately lame for most of last week. I’m pleased to say he has a shoe back on now but he had a bruised foot after his run in the Clarence House at Cheltenham. 

“It took five or six days to get him back sound. We did some x-rays which were all clear and provided there are no further problems then it’s not a concern. We’ve had a little niggle with him but he’s got plenty of time. It’s only a small setback.”

Energumene Remains The 2023 Champion Chase Favourite

The 2022 Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Energumene, remains the favourite on the betting exchanges at 2.80 and is on offer @ 13/8 with BetVictor to successfully defend his Cheltenham crown on Wednesday 15th March.

The Willie Mullins-trained 9 year-old will be hoping to become the first back-to-back Champion Chase winner since Altior (2018 and 2019), but will need to bounce back from being beaten into third by Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone – with around 6 1/2 lengths to find with that pair on that running.

• Energumene 13/8
• Edwardstone 2/1
• Blue Lord 6/1
• Gentleman De Mee 7/1
  Odds are subject to change and others on request