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Jockey Tom Cannon is hopeful his longtime ally Edwardstone can get back to winning ways in the Coral Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton on Saturday.
Edwardstone has had to settle for second best behind Jonbon in both the Grade 2 Shloer Chase at Cheltenham and last month's Grade 1 Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown this year. Alan King's 2022 Arkle winner will be stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time over fences, with jockey Tom Cannon, who has partnered the Kayf Tara gelding in 13 of his 14 starts over fences, believing now is the perfect timing for his new venture.
Cannon said: "I think it is a logical move as Edwardstone is not getting younger and now is as good a time as ever to step him up in trip.
"Although he has not run over this distance over fences, he ran well over two and a half miles over hurdles when he was third at Aintree (in 2021).
"We are going back to slightly calmer waters having run in the Tingle Creek last time, but there are still some good horses in this race.
"It is still a competitive race so he will have to be at his best to win."
The Alan King-trained ten-year-old has failed to score since landing a third Grade 1 in last year's Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown but Cannon was 'more than happy' with his performance in the same Grade 1 prize on December 9th.
The 32-year-old rider added: "All his best runs have been around Sandown, and he definitely improved for the run at Cheltenham in the Shloer Chase in the Tingle Creek.
"I was more than happy with his run. It was as good a run that he had put in for a long time.
"He felt back to his best and fingers crossed he can continue that form going forward.
"He has not been over-raced, and he has been well managed throughout his career which has been a big help.
"He had a jump last Thursday at home and he jumped very well so there is no problem in that department. He seemed fresh and very well so I couldn't be happier with him."
Although versatile regarding conditions, all three of Edwardstone's top-level successes have come on ground described as good-to-soft and Cannon expects his mount to be much more at ease with the prospect of a return to a sounder surface likely at Kempton on Saturday.
He said: "I think the better the ground the better it is for him, although he does handle any ground with the exception of extremes.
"He hasn't had decent ground in his two runs this season and hopefully he will appreciate that going up in trip.
"He has won well around Kempton before over fences in the Wayward Lad (Novices' Chase) and it is a flat track which should help him see out the trip,
"However, we won't know if he does get the trip until he has run, and the horse will do all the talking."