Eldorado Allen foils Hitman to grab Haldon Gold Cup

Watch a full replay of how last season's Arkle runner-up won Tuesday's feature at Exeter plus interviews with the victors.

Joe Tizzard admitted the battling success registered by Eldorado Allen in the feature Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter today was “just what the yard needed” following a difficult 12 months.

After saddling just 37 winners last season, trainer Colin Tizzard celebrated a second notable victory in the space of three days following the tenacious success secured by the progressive seven year old in the Grade Two feature at the Devon track.

Anchored at the rear of the field for much of the race, the 9-2 chance gradually worked his way into contention under Brendan Powell before moving on with eventual runner-up Hitman on the run down to the final four fences in the home straight.

It looked as though the 11-10 favourite Hitman, who had finished ahead of Eldorado Allen in the Grade One Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, once again had the measure of his last season’s Arkle Trophy runner-up approaching the final fence.

Although Hitman still held a clear advantage over the last, his petrol levels started to run on empty as the post loomed, and with one last surge close to the line Eldorado Allen forged ahead of his old rival before to prevail by a length.

Following the race, which follows on from the victory gained by stablemate Fiddlerontheroof in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on Sunday, Eldorado Allen was cut to 40-1 for the Ryanair Chase at next year’s Cheltenham Festival by Betfair.

Joe Tizzard, son and assistant trainer, said: “He didn’t travel all that well early on and Brendan said he was virtually flat out.

“It turned into a proper slog. It was good on the horse he stuck his head out really well and he has proved he will get a bit further now. We thought going to Aintree over two mile four last season would have been ideal, but he just ran a bit flat.

“He was second in an Arkle and off 151 you had to fancy him. He beat the right horse in my opinion. I think the right two fought it out so it was a solid performance.

“They were needing their runs the first half of October but they have just started to hit their straps now and it proves they are in rude health with themselves now.

“To go and win with Fiddlerontheroof and this one now is just what the yard needed. It puts it all to rest a little from what has been going on over the last 12 months.

“It is nice for us and good for the owners who have supported us all the way through. However well they run it is all about winners and we have got in the habit of having big winners and that is how we want to continue.”

Although plans remain fluid for Eldorado Allen, an outing in the Grade Two Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday 5th December is a possibility.

Tizzard continued: “We will probably be looking at going a bit further now. He has won over hurdles and first time out over fences last year so he does go well fresh. We’ve not really got any plans so we will have to plot a path.

“Quite possibly the Peterborough Chase could be a race we look at as he has put himself in that sort of bracket. He could be a Ryanair horse as we get further down the line.”

Successful jockey Brendan Powell added: “I sat at the back and just crept away. Once the race started to unfold when we jumped the last fence down the back, I said ‘go’ and I had a willing partner with me.

“I thought I had run my race coming down to the last and I was going to be a gallant second. I don’t know whether Hitman got tired or I just stayed on, maybe it was a combination of both, but he got in front where the line was.

“This is the big race at Exeter and to come and do it at a local track is brilliant. There are pressures that come with it when you are riding better horses in better races, but it is not a bad position to be in. They are lovely fences around here and very well presented. You have still got to jump them but other racecourses should take note.”

As for joint-owner Terry Warner, who has seen his colours carried to Champion Hurdle glory with Rooster Booster 2003 and owns Eldorado Allen in partnership with John Romans, he was optimistic of a solid display.

Warner said: “I’m not surprised he has won as I think he is an improving horse. He is a grey of course and that helps.

“He looked like he was going to be second at the last but he has run on and looks like he wants an extra half mile now.

“I was quite bullish before the race. I thought we are getting weight and he had no weight at all so I thought it was a wonderful chance for us to win. I never thought he would get there. We are very excited about him.”

An outing in next month’s Betfair Tingle Creek could be on the agenda for both runner-up Hitman and fourth placed Greaneteen according to trainer Paul Nicholls.

Nicholls said: “Hitman has just got to stick his head down and gallop to the line but that will come with experience. Every time he has won, he has won hard on the bridle. He has never had to get in a battle with those battle-hardened horses and stick his head down to the line but that will come. He has a lot of potential.

“I hate getting beat but I’m thrilled he ran so well. Greaneteen did exactly what I thought he would do and blew up but we will now get him tuned up for the Tingle Creek. That was his prep for that today and I’ve left loads to work on and that will take the freshness out of him.

“I will not be afraid to go to the Tingle Creek with Hitman as you are a bit in no man’s land. He is rated 151 and he might as well go in those better races than in a handicap. You want to run him in those better races as somewhere along the line he will pick one up.”

Trainer Jackie Du Plessis is fast making up for a couple of tough seasons after St Erney provided her with a third winner from her last five runners when securing his first success in more than two years in the Betway Stayers’ Handicap Chase at Exeter this afternoon.

Having failed to saddle a winner last season, and just one the campaign before, the Cornish-based handler celebrated victory number four of the current term after the 10 year old gelding snapped his own losing streak in the three-mile contest.

Jumping the last almost together with eventual third Run To Milan, the 12-1 chance stayed on in game fashion under Harry Kimber before scoring by two and three quarter lengths.

Du Plessis said: “I’m chuffed to bits with him. He had a rubbish season last season and I don’t know what went wrong with him.

“I think last season he wasn’t feeling it but he felt it today. I’m pleased to have him fit first time out as he is a bit of an old tank. I did wonder if he would blow up.

“I probably need to have a winner every week to recover from the past couple of years as they have been pretty rubbish.

“It is nice for things to turn around and when horses drop down the handicap you have to take advantage.

“We ran him over three miles six before and he was rubbish. We will take it race by race. He is better going left handed.

“I wanted to go to Chepstow tomorrow for the conditionals race which was a 0-115 and he is rated 110 so it would be perfect but this was worth more prize money.”

Paul Nicholls may have been out of luck in the Betway Haldon Gold Cup with Hitman and Greaneteen, however the 12-times champion Jump trainer saddled his 50th domestic winner of the season after Threeunderthrufive opened his account over fences.

The Listed-winning hurdle went one better than on his debut over the larger obstacles at Chepstow 25 days ago when accounting for Ask A Honey Bee by 15 lengths in the Betway “Future Stars” Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase under Adrian Heskin.

Nicholls, who landed the race 12 months ago with Enrillo, said of the successful 8-11 favourite: “He is a real strong stayer and he learnt a lot from his first run at Chepstow. He does seem to go quite well right handed.

“The Reynoldstown at Ascot would be a nice race for him as he would be brilliant around there. He will make a real stayer in the future.

“He will win another one like that then perhaps go to the Reynoldstown. He stays and gallops and you wouldn’t know what is in the tank.

“The difference in his jumping today and at Chepstow was like chalk and cheese.”

On the 50 winners he said: “It is a good start and we had a lot of winners in October. We have just got to keep on going. Nothing is easy in this game though and we have to keep looking forward.”

Martha Brae benefitted from a patient ride under champion jockey Harry Skelton to get her tally up and running for the season when prevailing by two lengths in the Betway Mares’ Handicap Hurdle

Dan Skelton, trainer, said of the triumphant 15-8 favourite: “She is very genuine. She tries her hardest and she loves a bit of slow ground and looking at that she will want three miles.

“I just tried to find her the slowest environment I could and a big galloping track like Exeter gave her lots of time and that was perfect.”