Expert Analysis

A race which always attracts a small field, but often a good winner (including Sprinter Sacre, Altior, Cyrname and Shishkin in the last decade), and that is the case again this time, Edwardstone confirming his Sandown win under these slightly different circumstances, again posting a good time, the splits showing that this was well-run almost throughout (97.9% finishing speed from 3 out is a bit slower than par).

EDWARDSTONE (c163 here and previously) is one of the best two-mile novice chasers of recent seasons, well ahead of his contemporaries in Britain but challenged by Ferny Hollow in Ireland, with Haut En Couleurs an emerging threat there also. He got the job done here every bit as well as could be expected, this effort on a par with his Sandown win in terms of form and on the clock, held up, awkward at the first and jumping a bit to his left at times but travelling strongly and quickly taking the race by the scruff of the neck jumping 3 out, forging clear and eased close home. He sometimes went too freely as a hurdler and a well-run race may be necessary for him to deliver his absolute best.     

DO YOUR JOB (c143 here, 132+ previously) should have little difficulty winning more races over fences kept away from the big guns, showing plenty of aptitude and useful form again here, but comprehensively put in his place by the winner when it mattered, racing freely and tracking the pace, leading briefly 3 out then outpaced. He looks a two-miler at present despite his stout breeding.

SOLO (c138 here, 139 previously) ran creditably, and should win a chase or 2, but has his limitations at this level, leading until approaching 3 out then one paced.

RAYA TIME (c96 here, 138 previously) had put up a useful effort when winning at Ludlow the time before but under-performed in the face of a stiffish task, close up until left behind after a mistake 4 out.