Alan King's veteran Edwardstone won the fourth Grade One contest of his long career in the bet365 Celebration Chase at Sandown.
But on a day when Dan Skelton was crowned champion trainer for the first time and became the first man to break through the £5m prize-money barrier, his Thistle Ask, who had been such a star all season, suffered what proved a fatal injury in the two-mile feature.
Stablemate Mirabad lost jockey Tristan Durrell in trying to evade Thistle Ask and with Joseph O’Brien’s Solness not on a going day, JPR One was left in front.
He got in tight to the last, however, allowing 11-1 shot Edwardstone and Tom Cannon the chance to stay on strongly up the hill at the course at which he landed the Tingle Creek in December 2022.
The admirable Edwardstone makes it three Grade 1 triumphs at Sandown Park, the 12-year-old proving best in the £175,000 @bet365 Celebration Chase pic.twitter.com/Y7xieTPh7Y
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) April 25, 2026
King said: "That has to be one of my most emotional wins, it was very special.
"He’s been in great form, Plumpton sharpened him up and he had never been so quick in his life. Tom asked should I rev him up at the start and I said there is no need, the job was done at Plumpton and he’s been a different horse since.
"I said to Tom, if you are a couple of lengths off him at the Pond Fence then we will have a hell of a chance. It’s a wonderful day and it was tremendous walking back in with him, the crowd were superb. He’s a special horse.
"This is why we do it, there are a lot of down days but this is right up with the best. We’ve not had a Grade One for a while, so this is good. Perhaps his Grade One days were behind him, but with no Jonbon today and the tragedy down the back – and I’m sorry for their team – things opened up for us.
"We’re not discussing retirement today and I might finish before him. He’s been up our hill at home I would think thousands of times and he still attacks it every morning.
"That’s why I want to keep going with him and he’ll tell me when he’s had enough."
Havaila continued his rapid progression under a very patient ride from Caoilin Quinn to win the bet365 Gold Cup.
While the quality and quantity of runners may have been down compared to years gone by, Gary and Josh Moore's seven-year-old emerged as a genuine Grand National contender.
Having landed the Sussex National last time out, he was racing off a 10lb higher mark, but the 5-1 chance was running away with Quinn for much of the contest.
He still looked to have a bit to do at the Pond Fence as Our Power and Road To Home tried to assert, yet despite meeting the last on an awkward stride Havaila stayed on powerfully to catch Our Power on the line and win by a short head, with Road To Home another neck away in third.
Havaila powers home to land the £175,000 @bet365 Gold Cup for @gl_racing 🏆 pic.twitter.com/SK5aSoo5sz
— Sandown Park (@Sandownpark) April 25, 2026
Gary Moore said: "Fair play to Caoilin, he gave him a great ride and got him switched off well enough. Caoilin has really stepped up this year and is a good lad who deserves it.
"I thought he had enough to do and a lot of ground to make up but he did it. He’s travelled and travelled and only just got there, but at least he won’t go up 10lb this time. Let’s hope he is all right tomorrow morning, running on that ground over that distance, let’s hope he’s OK.
"I suppose we might have to go down the Grand National route after that, but let’s get today over with and worry about next season in the autumn.
"He’s going in the right direction and he’s just started coming to himself. It’s great to get this race on the CV and we’re really lucky to have this horse."
