Clarence House: more questions than answers as Editeur Du Gite edges out Edwardstone

The Preston family have previous when it comes to upsetting the two-mile chasing division and their colours again came to the fore when Editeur Du Gite denied Edwardstone and Energumene in a pulsating Clarence House Chase that may have provided more questions than answers.

Rearranged from Ascot last week, the Clarence House was run under the banner of Albert Bartlett and was expected to be a stepping stone to the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase for the Willie Mullins-trained 4-9 favourite Energumene.

He won that race last year and was fancied to dominate once more, but his laboured effort in third was succinctly described as "disappointing" by jockey Paul Townend.

Without him, many might have thought Edwardstone, last season's Arkle winner, would win but he was a head inferior to the Gary Moore-trained Editeur Du Gite, who carries the Preston clan's familiar blue and red Crystal Palace colours.

Returning as a 14-1 shot, he led but was headed and Edwardstone – a 5-2 shot –  looked like prevailing, only for the 14-1 winner to rally in the blue-collar manner of 2014 Champion Chase winner Sire De Grugy.

He was owned by the Prestons and Editeur Du Guite is 5-1 (from 25) with Betfair and Paddy Power to emulate him after giving unheralded jockey Niall Houlihan a first success at the highest level.

It was a victory that also meant the world to the Jacobs family, who have a share in the French-bred gelding. He has long been held in high regard and announced himself as a Champion Chase challenger when destroying the gifted Nube Negra in Kempton's Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas.

Trevor Jacobs is among the connections of the new kid on the two-mile chasing block and his son Ryan said: "Dad has been in intensive care for 200 days with Guillain-Barre syndrome.

"He's getting there, it's slightly better every day. ITV Racing is the only TV he gets in the hospital, so I bet his heart rate has gone up on his machine!

"He's had plenty of horses with Gary, but Gary gave him the opportunity to get involved with this horse and he's got an absolute beauty, although I thought, coming here today it was a two-horse race between Energumene and Edwardstone."

Jacobs' other son Daniel was also in an emotional mood. "When we were headed we were still happy, but to come back and win was even better," he said.

"Dad's had winners at a few nice tracks and we've got to go for the Champion Chase now. We've already spoken to Dad on a FaceTime call with our mum Mary.

"He's crying his eyes out with joy; he couldn't talk. It will perk him up but the come down is the reality when Mum leaves.

"It can be a full recovery, but it could be anything up to two years. He's on a breathing apparatus now and hopefully can progress once he's off that."

Editeur Du Gite: the Clarence House winner is now likely to be aimed at the Champion ChaseCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Josh Moore, on duty for his father, was thrilled with an outcome he might not have anticipated. "I’ve always thought he was up to this level," he said.

"It is a pleasant surprise. He does love it around here. I was annoyed with myself doing the decs a year ago for the Champion Chase as I said the best chance he has got is in the Grand Annual and, at the time, I wish we would have run in the Champion Chase.

"He showed he was a good horse at Kempton. It's not surprising he has won that today, but in Edwardstone and Energumene it didn't look like they could get beaten."

In the 2013-14 campaign, the Moore family's Sire De Grugy hit the heights, beating racing royalty in Sprinter Sacre and winning this race at Ascot before the Champion Chase.

Trevor Jacobs might have a bigger battle to overcome, but do not bet against it if he takes spirit from the new star that is Editeur Du Gite.

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