'He's more than earned his ticket for somewhere nice' - summer star Edelak strikes again for Dan Skelton

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Dan Skelton's quest for a record number of jumps winners in a season was given a welcome boost when Edelak maintained his flying form with another success in the 2m1f handicap hurdle. 

The four-year-old has now won five of his last six starts, his sole blemish coming when falling when travelling like the winner at Stratford in July, and shone once again to seal a double for the team with a facile seven-length victory under Harry Skelton, following up Moment Of Light's win earlier on the card. 

"He's a lot more professional now," Dan Skelton said of Edelak. "His fall at Stratford came because he wasn't really concentrating. He's sharpened his ideas up a bit. 

"We bought him last year off the Flat and thought he'd be quite progressive, but the ground in the winter just held him back a bit. He's really got going now, he's making giant strides while the ground is like this, and we'll have to test him in a better race before long."

The four-year-old contest at Chepstow's season opener next month could be that test, and although Skelton plans to put Edelak away during the worst of the winter weather, he could be a smart performer for the spring as well. 

"He's more than earned his ticket for somewhere nice," added Skelton. "I think in the springtime you could aim him at those nicer races. He's effective over two and two and a half miles, so he's got options." 

Cobden collects

Harry Cobden had just one ride at the Devon track but walked away with a winner after Explode delivered at odds-on in the 2m1f maiden hurdle. 

The Faye Bramley-trained four-year-old had been competing on the Flat this summer and, despite a few jumping errors, made a successful switch back to jumps when seeing off Crystal Mariner by three-quarters of a length. 

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