Edwardstone Eyes Desert Orchid Chase

Edwardstone is on track to contest the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton following his untimely fall in Saturday’s Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

The Alan King-trained star, winner of the 2022 Tingle Creek, was making his third consecutive appearance in the race but came to grief four fences from home while still in contention. His old rival Jonbon delivered a dominant performance to retain the title.

Trainer Confident in Recovery

King reported that Edwardstone has shown no ill effects from the incident and resumed light exercise:

“He seems fine and has ridden out this morning, all seems grand. It was just one of those things. He was still travelling at that stage, but there’s no point thinking what might have been.”

Desert Orchid Handicap No Obstacle

The Desert Orchid Chase, set to be run as a handicap for the second year, remains the likely target for Edwardstone, despite the possibility of carrying top weight. King acknowledged the limited options for his charge:

“I would imagine if we’re happy, he’ll go Desert Orchid. There are not many options for him, and if he has to carry top weight, he’ll carry it.”

Edwardstone will aim to bounce back at Kempton and reassert himself as a leading force in the two-mile chase division.