Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase report: Editeur du Gite shocker as Edwardstone unseats
By Sporting Life
16:34 · TUE December 27, 2022
Editeur du Gite caused a 28/1 shock in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase as 2/5 favourite Edwardstone unseated Tom Cannon early in the contest at Kempton.
Edwardstone was lobbing along at the back of the field when he got in too close to one down the far side leaving Cannon no chance as he was catapulted out of the saddle.
Editeur Du Gite was bowling along nicely in front under Niall Houlihan at that stage and he didn't see another rival as he galloped on relentlessly for a 13-length success from Nube Negra who couldn't pick up for Harry Skelton.
Betfair and Paddy Power introduced the winner into the Queen Mother Champion Chase betting at 33/1.
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Winning trainer Gary Moore said: “I said to Niall just ride him to be third as I had no other expectations.
“He is not at his best right-handed. The ground is probably a bit softer than he would have liked it so they tell me. He has just proved everything wrong today.
“They are a great bunch of owners. The saddest thing is that Trevor (Jacobs, part owner) has been in hospital for six months now but he is gradually getting better. He is a great man it is just a shame that he is not here. What this horse has done for all of them (is great). They are the luckiest bunch of owners, they had Sire De Grugy then this horse. He is no Sire De Grugy but he ain’t far behind him. It is great and good for the yard as they have worked hard over Christmas. It is well deserved.
“There (Cheltenham) and Aintree (are where his best performances have been). He will now have to go for the Game Spirit. He will have to have a Champion Chase entry as handicaps are definitely out of the question. His work at home has been very good. You could gallop him with any two-mile hurdler and he will gallop with them if not better. It is a massive surprise. You need to have surprises like this.
“The only thing is Josh isn’t riding that is the only thing missing but fair play to Niall he has done well on the horse and it is great for him. They get on well together every time he has ridden him.”
Houlihan said: “It is the biggest winner of my career so far.
“Big thanks to the boss, Jamie, Josh and all the team at home to have the horse in brilliant form and the form of his life. The boss told me to jump out down the inside and use him for his jumping. I didn’t see another horse bar Edwardstone. I’m speechless. I did know it was him (Edwardstone, the loose horse) but I was, at the time, hoping that I would get a breather and something would come to me around the bend as he was out in front a long time by himself.
“He is a brilliant jumper and when he sees a fence he locks on to it. I turned around past the line and thought that is the handicap mark gone. He is a very good horse and I’m a good passenger. I sit there and let him do it.”
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