Edwardstone groom has backed her pride and joy to defy the doubters and win for the first time at Cheltenham.
The eight-year-old has overcome a couple of mishaps on his first few chasing starts to become a leading contender for Festival honours.
Trainer Alan King's big hope has won his last four races, including the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown.
The impressive 16-length triumph showed how far he had come, after he unseated his rider on his first outing over the bigger obstacles.
Brought down on seasonal debut, Edwardstone has thrived for each race – and he now bids for top honours at Prestbury Park.
Bookmakers have made him the favourite for the Arkle Chase on Tuesday, the opening afternoon of the flagship fixture.
Yet to win at the track in three appearances over hurdles, some pundits have noted this as a negative, as well as the stiffer fences at the Gloucestershire venue.
But Edwardstone's groom Caroline Schofield is unconcerned – and expects him to set the record straight.
“People have said he has not won a race at Cheltenham and have questioned will get up the hill but he has run in some of those good handicaps at Cheltenham and he was running his merits over others that were thrown in at the weights," she said.
“I don’t have any qualms with the track at all for him. He has never jumped fences around there but he has become a very good jumper and he was good the last time at Warwick.
“There should be a nice pace going as it is a Cheltenham Grade 1 so they won’t hang about. He can just sit in and hopefully come and finish up the hill. He gets every yard of two miles and he won’t be stopping up the hill that is for sure.”
Schofield, 56, has worked for King, whose last Festival winner was Uxizandre in 2015, for the past six years.
She led in a Cheltenham winner when Harambe took the Greatwood Hurdle at the November Meeting in 2019.
Schofield volunteered to look after Edwardstone who she says is "quite a character" in his stable and enjoys being fed carrots.
She nominated his Sandown performance before Christmas as one of his best.
“My boy was spectacular that day," Schofield said.
"We were all watching it on the grass where the lads watch it and we saw him cruise up to Third Time Lucki.
“He went past him and everything was flat out in behind and my lad was only in third gear. It was a fantastic feeling.”
There will be an even bigger celebration from the team if he can win at the Festival.
“I’m hoping he will be clear and there is no battle up the run in with anything. I can assure you we will be shouting our heads off," she added.
“After the first time he got round Warwick and won they were offering 33-1 for the Arkle I got the enhanced odds of 35-1 so I had a tenner each-way on him so it is now a case of fingers crossed.
“It is not about the money for me though I just want him to get round, but to win it would be fantastic.”
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