Edwardstone Swerves Cheltenham for Aintree — But History Is Against Him

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Alan King confirmed after the Ascot Chase on Saturday that Edwardstone will bypass the Cheltenham Festival entirely. The Ryanair entry stays in the drawer. Instead, the 12-year-old will head to Aintree for the Melling Chase in April, a race King won back-to-back with Voy Por Ustedes in 2008 and 2009.

It’s a sensible move. Edwardstone ran a solid fourth in the Ascot Chase, chasing the pace and not quite getting home over an extended two and a half miles. King was characteristically honest afterwards: “He jumped super and it was a proper horse race. It was nice to see a ten, eleven and twelve year old fighting it out.”

Grand-National-Festival on The Race Lab

Edwardstone Swerves Cheltenham for Aintree — But History Is Against Him