bet365 Celebration Chase |
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| Grade 1, Sandown 14:55 £175,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 2m, Class 1  |
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1 Edwardstone 11/1
2
JPR One 8/1
3
Solness 5/4F
6 ran NR: Jonbon Distances: hd, 4l
Time: 3m 46.10s (fast by 3.90s)
12-year-old EDWARDSTONE wins the Grade 1 Bet365 Celebration Chase under @tomcannon2 for Alan King pic.twitter.com/LrWMKKNKHl
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) April 25, 2026
Edwardstone rolled back the years in stirring fashion to claim the fourth Grade One victory of his distinguished career, providing a moment of triumph tinged with deep poignancy.
On a day dominated by Dan Skelton’s crowning as champion trainer and his record-breaking ascent beyond £5million in prize-money, the contest was overshadowed by the loss of his stable star Thistle Ask, who suffered a fatal injury in the two-mile feature.
The race itself developed in dramatic fashion. Mirabad unseated Tristan Durrell while attempting to avoid the stricken Thistle Ask, and with Joseph O’Brien’s Solness failing to fire, JPR One was left in command approaching the final stages.
However, a less-than-fluent leap at the last proved costly, opening the door for Edwardstone, sent off at 11/1, to deliver a trademark late surge under Tom Cannon. Staying on powerfully up the Sandown hill – a finish he knows so well, having landed the Tingle Creek there in December 2022 – he seized the opportunity with authority.
King said: “That has to be one of my most emotional wins, it was very special.
“He’s been in great form, Plumpton sharpened him up (last time) and he had never been so quick in his life. Tom asked should I rev him up at the start and I said there is no need, the job was done at Plumpton and he’s been a different horse since.
“I said to Tom if you are a couple of lengths off him at the Pond Fence then we will have a hell of a chance. It’s a wonderful day and it was tremendous walking back in with him, the crowd were superb. He’s a special horse.
“This is why we do it, there are a lot of down days but this is right up with the best. We’ve not had a Grade One for a while so this is good. Perhaps his Grade One days were behind him, but with no Jonbon today and the tragedy down the back – and I’m sorry for their team – things opened up for us.
“We’re not discussing retirement today and I might finish before him. He’s been up our hill at home I would think thousands of times and he still attacks it every morning.
“That’s why I want to keep going with him and he’ll tell me when he’s had enough.”
It was the second occasion this season that Edwardstone had defied the years, and for Cannon, the achievement ranked among their finest together.
Cannon said: “The race worked out perfectly and I’ve ridden him round here so many times, it is always a similar sort of pattern.
“We got to the Pond Fence, I gave him a squeeze and he’s finished up nicely. I think the race at Plumpton has really stood him in good stead and we’ve seen the benefit of that today.
“What a servant he’s been and he’s given me some great days and this could top the lot of them. It’s a proper story, lots of people follow him and he got a great cheer coming in. To do it on the last day of the season is a remarkable performance and Alan King deserves a lot of credit.”
Following the race, Sandown issued a statement regarding Thistle Ask: “Thistle Ask sustained an injury in the bet365 Celebration Chase.
“He was assessed on course by Sandown’s specialist veterinary team and it was decided that the best course of action for the horse’s welfare was for him to be humanely euthanised.
“Our heartfelt condolences are with those who looked after him at home every day and all of his connections.”
Reflecting on the loss, Skelton said: “He’s just splayed his legs on landing and that’s been the result of it, which is awfully sad. It’s just something that can happen and horses do the splits in the field, it’s just one of those things.
“He’s just been an amazing horse and he was out there absolutely flying loving what he does and there you go, it’s the ups and downs of our sport.
“What a winter he had and we’ve been so proud of him. We’ll always remember him as a special horse.”
bet365 Celebration Chase
Grade 1, £175,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus, 2m, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good, Good to Firm in places
