Edwardstone is the one to beat in the Champion Chase, according to our main man Ruby Walsh.
The winner of last year’s Arkle is vying for favouritism with the reigning champion chaser Energumene, despite the market leaders being put in their place by Editeur Du Gite in January’s rescheduled Clarence House Chase.
If there’s one person who knows a thing or two about horses it’s our Ruby – the winning-most jockey in the history of the Cheltenham Festival – and he reckons Energumene is lacking the same spark as last season.
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Ruby Walsh:
“I could see how Energumene could turn it round going to Cheltenham with Shihskin last year. A change of tactics, you roll the dice.
“Editeur Du Gite was a good winner of the Clarence House but he got a brilliant ride. When you need a brilliant ride to win a championship race, it’s hard to win a second. That’s what he got.
“Tom Cannon will revert and ride Edwardstone like he rode him in the Arkle last year. He is the one to beat.
“I didn’t think that would be the case leaving Cheltenham last year. I thought Energumene would be too good for Edwardstone, who was already an eight-year-old but to me Edwardstone has improved this year.
“He’s a better horse this year than last year and I think he’ll win the Champion Chase.
“I don’t think the tactics got Energumene beat in the Clarence House. I just wasn’t sure there was the same spark.”
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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