Irish hopes take a pounding in early exchanges

Edwardstone ridden by Tom Cannon celebrates winning the Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Novices' Chase 

Three races into the 2022 Cheltenham Festival, it was quite the opposite of the proposed “greenwash” as the hosts set off at a blistering gallop, saddling all three winners. This was not entirely unexpected and nor was it ever likely to continue, but the three victories were all very much on merit.

Constitution Hill may be a monster – that’s certainly the impression he gave in the Supreme – and Edwardstone, for all that we sought reason to take him on in what looked a weak renewal of the Sporting Life Arkle, was well on top and fully deserving of this fifth consecutive victory over fences.