Off The Fence: Barry Geraghty Says Edwardstone Must Step Up To Beat Energumene | Race News
Barry Geraghty says Edwardstone’s form will need to take another step forward if he is to tackle Energumene in the Champion Chase after his winning comeback on Sunday.
Arkle hero Edwardstone cemented his Champion Chase credentials with a stunning victory in the Tingle Creek Chase, while defending champion Energumene returned home to the Hilly Way Chase in Cork.
And while Edwardstone arguably achieved more by beating Greeneteen and Shishkin, Energumene is likely to be in place for the Champion Chase, with Edwardstone a 5/2 shot for Alan King’s side.
When examining the seasonal respawn of Energumene on out of the fenceGeraghty was impressed with how relaxed the Champion Chaser looked and admitted Willie Mullins’ horse was still the one to beat.
Edwardstone clears the final fence on his way to victory at Sandown
“I would stay with the current champion,” Geraghty said.
“Edwardstone is a very good horse and really impressed me in Tingle Creek, but he just needs to take that step to beat an Energumene or a horse of that level.
“It was a good performance and that’s what you would have hoped for.
“Just a few things – he glanced at the gate, was a bit inactive up front and missed first back and penultimate.
“He just wasn’t as aggressive as he maybe was at Ascot when he was really nervous and really excited with Paul Townend.
“He was more relaxed and for that reason he landed on the back first, but then jumped really well.
“That should help him on the finish, when he didn’t come home amazing at Ascot and he could come home better this year with that little age and experience, so That’s a positive for me anyway.”
Geraghty also reserved praise for Mullins’ stable jockey Paul Townend, who made the smooth transition to the No.1 rider at Closutton following the retirement of Ruby Walsh in 2019.
“Paul [Townend] is a brilliant rider and he mentioned that these are the toughest rides,” he added. “As you gallop to a fence, you think, ‘I don’t really need a big one.’
“You can be guessing and not hide anything. The potential is for something to go wrong or something negative, so it can be a test for a rider.
“But Paul was very good on Energumene and he’s very good too.”
Meet the Off The Fence team
Barry Geraghty
Now retired after a 24-year career in the saddle that yielded 43 Cheltenham Festival successes, Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Barry Geraghty returns to At The Races, with whom he enjoyed a fruitful relationship in as an ambassador and columnist between 2012 and 2019.
An iconic National Hunt racer still well-connected and working at some of the sport’s biggest yards, Barry has won everything there is to win in jump racing and is sure to give Off The Fence viewers some insight. raw every week.
vanessa ryle
A popular member of Sky Sports Racing’s on-course presenting team who also run The Bloodstock Show, host Vanessa is an avid jump racer and will be tasked with leading her fellow ‘Off The Fence’ analysts each week.
Tony Keenan
Irish resident tipster and analyst for attheraces.com, Tony Keenan, has also played a prominent role alongside Barry in ATR’s Cheltenham Preview Nights in Dublin since 2017.
As sharp as he is quick-witted, Tony’s steady single takes and no-nonsense delivery will no doubt keep Off The Fence viewers (and Barry and Vanessa!) on their toes.
