Tag Archive for: Arizona Cardinal

Arizona Cardinal back in good spirits and Aintree bound again

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Arizona Cardinal is back firing on all cylinders after missing his Grand Sefton target and now has the Becher Chase in his sights instead.

Stuart Edmunds’ eight-year-old showed a real liking for the Grand National fences at Aintree in April when winning the Topham under Ciaran Gethings.

It was the intention to return to the same track for the Grand Sefton earlier this month, but an unsatisfactory scope scuppered that plan and he was forced to sit the meeting out.

The gelding has returned to full health now, though, and the Becher Chase over an extended trip of three miles and two furlongs is the plan in early December.

“He’s doing really well after his setback, the plan is now to go to the Becher with him,” said Edmunds.

“It was a dirty scope that ruled him out but he’s much better now, we’re very pleased with him.”

Edmunds looks to have a real prospect on his hands in Miami Magic, who is unbeaten in two runs over hurdles since joining the stable.

With some good point-to-point and bumper form to his name, the chestnut took a Fakenham event by 10 lengths in October and then returned on Monday to win a two-mile Kempton novice by 12 lengths.

There are no concrete plans for the horse in the aftermath of that success but Edmunds clearly thinks a lot of him and could be tempted to aim high.

“That was a very good run, we were thrilled and we think he’s very, very nice,” he said.

“I don’t think I’ve had one this good before, we’ll have to have a look at the programme book now.

“He shows a lot of speed, he does everything very easily and I think he’s very smart.

“I have had a sneaky look at the old Tolworth but we’ll have to see.”

Arizona Cardinal ruled out of Grand Sefton reckoning

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Arizona Cardinal will miss a planned return to Aintree for Saturday’s Boylesports Grand Sefton Handicap Chase due to a dirty scope.

The eight-year-old won his final three starts of last season for trainer Stuart Edmunds, completing his hat-trick with victory over the Grand National fences in April’s Topham Chase.

He was pulled up on his seasonal reappearance at Chepstow last month, but connections had been expecting an improved performance back over the famous Aintree obstacles.

Edmunds announced on Wednesday: “We were looking forward to sending Arizona Cardinal back to Aintree over the Grand National fences, but unfortunately he will not be going now as he scoped dirty when he came back in from his work this morning.

“We are all gutted, but it is just one of those things and the welfare of the horse has to come first.

“We will now regroup and aim him at the Becher Chase next month and hopefully he will be fine for that.”

Topham touchdown for Arizona Cardinal

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Arizona Cardinal prevented a perfect Grand National rehearsal for Paul Townend when flying home in a thrilling conclusion to the Randox Supports Race Against Dementia Topham Handicap Chase.

A typically great sight as a packed field tackled the Grand National course, there were plenty in with chances as they approached the final fence.

Townend, who partners I Am Maximus in Saturday’s main event, headed to the elbow in front though and was travelling well aboard the Willie Mullins-trained James Du Berlais.

However, Stuart Edmunds’ Arizona Cardinal was keeping on gamely up the run-in under Ciaran Gethings.

With the stride of the Closutton challenger shortening in the dying strides, Arizona Cardinal clawed his way to the front to score at odds of 20-1, securing a length verdict at the line. Kandoo Kid took third with Celebre D’Allen a short head back in fourth.

Arizona Cardinal was realising a long-term plan for Edmunds and owners the Oakman Racing Club.

The trainer said: “You couldn’t quite believe it was happening to be honest.

“It is a massive emotion as the horse didn’t have it easy at the beginning of the season with a lung infection. It took a while for him to get over that, but he is a lovely horse and an absolute gentleman. It’s a massive team effort.

Ciaran Gethings celebrates on Arizona Cardinal
Ciaran Gethings celebrates on Arizona Cardinal (Bradley Collyer/PA)

“It was seven or eight months ago when we started looking at this race, mainly because we thought his jumping was superb. We took him down to Lambourn to have a pop over the National fences and he was class and I don’t think he’s made a semblance of a mistake today.

“I thought he was beat and you’d be silly if you didn’t think he was beat, but the fact that he stays three miles has helped him on the soft ground.”

On a possible future tilt at the Grand National, Edmunds added: “He’d jump round, quite whether he’d get that trip (I’m not sure). We might try to stretch him to the Becher Chase and give it a try.

“He’s obviously relished the fences.”

Arizona Cardinal on his way to Topham triumph
Arizona Cardinal on his way to Topham triumph (Mike Egerton/PA)

Gethings said: “It’s unbelievable, I’m delighted. You come to these races usually to make up the numbers and have a day out, but I knew it was more than that today because I fancied this horse for a long time.

“I knew he’d take to the fences and I knew that dropping back in trip would suit him. He came out of my hands at the first but after that he was foot-perfect the whole way round, it was so smooth.

“I’ve had two rides previously over the fences, I finished sixth in the Foxhunters’ for Peter Bowen and I got a spare ride in the National half-an-hour before the race on Saint Are. He was second in the race before but it was soft ground the day I rode him and he hated it and I came down at The Chair.

“I thought we were beaten today and I was very much happy with second, but he just kept finding and finding and I was just hoping the line wouldn’t come too soon. I had a quick look up and thought I might just get there and thank God I did.

“Riding round there is like nothing else. People say the fences aren’t the same and they’re not the same size as they were, but it’s still a different feeling when you’re riding a horse that takes to it.

“I’m only a small-time jockey. I’ve had a couple of nice winners for Stuart but never on this stage.

“We’ve had a little bit more quality winners recently. You could ride 10 good winners and it would be better than riding 40 lesser ones.

“I had good winner back home in Ireland earlier in the year (on Marsh Wren) which was a great buzz, but to do it here over the big fences is pretty unbelievable.”