Can Edwardstone cement his Arkle claims with Wayward Lad victory?

Ladbrokes Wayward Lad Novices' Chase (Grade 2) | 2m | 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Nicky Henderson’s love affair with this race means we have seen four winners of the Wayward Lad go on to land the Arkle at Cheltenham in March in recent years. Sprinter Sacre, Simonsig, Altior and Shishkin all won it and now Edwardstone bids to follow the same path.

Edwardstone announced himself as Britain’s big hope for the Arkle when bolting up by 16 lengths in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown this month and that was good enough for a Racing Post Rating of 164. That would have won seven of the last ten runnings of this.

Simonsig and Altior (167) in 2012 and 2016 and Shishkin (170) last year are the exceptions and the crucial difference between Edwardstone and the other Arkle winners who competed in the last ten seasons is they were trained by Henderson. Edwardstone is with Alan King.

King has never won this race and his last two Arkle winners, Voy Por Ustedes and My Way De Solzen, didn’t compete. However, My Way De Solzen was beaten in the Sandown race that Edwardstone won and Edwardstone is a better horse at this stage of his chase career.

Do Your Job mixed it at the top table in novice hurdles last season and didn’t get the chance to give Edwardstone a race at Sandown. He was travelling just as well as the winner, and in a similar position, when overjumping at the eighth, knuckling on landing, and taking a fall.

Solo and Raya Time are making the step up from handicap company and Not Available, who beat Solo at Newbury on his last start, franked the form when winning at Ludlow last week.

Raya Time won by 20 lengths at Ludlow three weeks ago and is more closely matched on RPRs with Do Your Job and Solo than the current prices would suggest. However, none of the three will be in the same parish as Edwardstone if he repeats his impressive Sandown victory.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

King hands Edwardstone Kempton mission

Alan King is taking no chances with Britain's leading Arkle hope Edwardstone after rerouting his top-class star to Kempton for his latest stepping stone towards the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old endured a torrid start to life over fences, unseating on his first attempt last season before being brought down at Warwick in November behind the reopposing Do Your Job.

However, he righted those wrongs when striking at the highest level in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown this month, and makes a swift return having initially been pencilled in for his next appearance at Warwick in February.

Edwardstone: Henry VIII Novices' Chase winner is the one to beatCredit: Edward Whitaker

No other British horse is shorter in the Arkle market than Edwardstone, who is a general 7-1 chance.

"I'd said after his terrific win in the Henry VIII at Sandown he'd probably run next in the Kingmaker at Warwick, as a stepping stone to the Arkle at Cheltenham," King said. "However, that's nearly two months away and you don't know what's going to happen with the weather – or if there might be another lockdown.

"Edwardstone has certainly come out of Sandown in fine form and he was very well when he schooled last week."

What they say

Michael Scudamore, trainer of Do Your Job
Things didn't go to plan last time when he fell at Sandown, but he's recovered well and didn't have a hard race. He's schooled well since and the rain that's arrived will help his cause. His fall was early enough in the race to know what would've happened, but Richard [Patrick] said he couldn't have been happier at the time. He jumped the fence okay but just stumbled on landing. I hope he can put things right here.

Tom George, trainer of Raya Time
We're up against it but we'll give it a go. I wasn't expecting him to win like he did last time, he had a bad fall in Ireland previously and we had to do a lot of schooling with him to get his confidence back. I expect him to have come on a bit for that.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Solo
He needs to improve on all known form but he likes going right-handed and more rain will suit him. There's more to come from him.
Reporting by Matt Rennie

Read more Monday previews . . .

1.40 Chepstow: is there another star in this year's Finale? Graeme Rodway analyses the field

2.30 Kempton: Henderson confident Shishkin is ready for return – but has concerns over ground

2.50 Chepstow: Welsh Grand National – key trainer quotes as Secret Reprieve bids for rare double

Big-race analysis: Keith Melrose on why the Welsh National has always been a front runner's haven (Members' Club)

2.55 Leopardstown: essential insight and quotes for the Paddy Power Chase

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