King Edmund beats lofty rivals on chase debut

Report: Plumpton, Monday

Attheraces.com With Free Timeform Novices' Chase (Class 3) 2m1f, 4yo+

KING EDMUND (14-1) lowered the colours of several well-touted rivals with a spring-heeled round of jumping to get off the mark over fences at the first time of asking at Plumpton on Monday.

The six-year-old,in the silks of owner and breeder Simon Tindall, had only achieved a rating of 115 over hurdles - some 40lb inferior to Franchoek in his pomp, but he left his much higher-rated rivals floundering with a strong round of speed and jumping.

The early pace was predictably quick with Mahonia and Franchoek jostling with King Edmund for the lead, and when things settled down it was the latter who led, with Mahonia second.

The Paul Nicholls representative was putting in some fluent leaps behind the leader, unlike Franchoek, who by the end of the back straight had dropped from third to sixth and was requring a lot of urging from Tony McCoy.

Back upfront King Edmund continued to jump boldly for Rodi Greene, with Mahonia coming to challenge at three out.

Just behind, Shoreacres was making his challenge round the outside of El Dancer and it looked as if the the trio would sweep pastKing Edmund.

However, at two out, Mahonia jumped left into El Dancer, falling and hindering both Lucy Wadham's charge and Shoreacres. El Dancer continued in second, but was unable to close and had to settle for second at 7-4 with Shoreacres third at 7-2.

Greene said of the winner: "To be honest, he travelled supremely and jumped super."