SOUL ICON triumphs in Desert Orchid Chase

Soul Icon enjoyed a well-deserved day in the sun with a surprise success in the Ladbrokes Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton Park.

It has been a while between drinks for Keiran Burke’s stable star, who had picked up second place in five successive races since last tasting victory over hurdles at Fontwell in October of last year.

The seven-year-old was seemingly outclassed when last of four in the Grade One Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown on his most recent outing and was sent off at 16-1 taking on the likes of Boothill and Edwardstone in this limited handicap.

It was a straight shootout barring accidents from halfway up the home straight, with Harry Cobden and Soul Icon challenged by Tom Cannon and Edwardstone, from whom Burke’s runner was receiving a stone and a half in weight.

That extra burden told late on as with the far rail to help, Soul Icon knuckled down on the run-in to secure top honours and his first win over fences by three and a half lengths, with 2-1 favourite Martator a further seven lengths away in third.

Burke, claiming his first big-race winner since saddling Hunt Ball to win at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival, said: “I’m delighted as he deserved that. He’s as genuine as they come and he’s just been unfortunate to bump into one a few times.

“It was a lovely ride from Harry, perfect. It was the complete opposite of what I wanted him to do, but he knows what he’s doing and knows more than I do!

“I don’t really have any plans as he is ground dependent – we do need this better ground. We’ll see what the weather is doing and see what’s available for him.”

Cobden told Racing TV: “It’s great to ride any winner, but especially on the big days. I get a buzz riding any horse to win in a race like this and it means so much more to those little guys because they don’t have many darts to throw at the board.

“We went very quick with two keen horses in front and I just thought we’d take a lead and follow away. He’s not a very big horse, but he’s clever and he’s got a big jump when you need it.

“Turning in I thought Edwardstone had nearly 12st and I didn’t want to be anywhere near him really. I just thought we’d stay away from an old, experienced horse as I didn’t want to help him along.

“He’s been very unlucky. Three or four times over fences it’s looked like he was going to win and something has nailed him in the last 25 yards. I think the way the race played out today, going so quick early, he hasn’t been in front too long and it’s probably helped him out.”

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