Rubaud shines in Haldon to edge Nicholls closer to Pipe’s record

Paul Nicholls moved within one of Martin Pipe’s record as Rubaud produced a superb display from the front to lift the BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup at Aintree.

Although the eight-year-old has some high-class form over fences, most of his previous big-race wins have come over the smaller obstacles, including a hat-trick of victories in the race formerly known as the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton.

Fresh from a comeback fourth in conditions hurdle at Carlisle, Rubaud was a 4-1 shot returning to chasing for the first time since being pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival in March and set out to make all in the hands of Sam Twiston-Davies.

He was joined and passed by recent Cheltenham winner JPR One in the back straight, but quickened up well to go clear of the pack from the home turn and a spring-heeled leap at the final obstacle sealed an emphatic six-and-a-half-length victory. JPR One boxed on to beat 9-4 favourite Mirabad to the runner-up spot.

Nicholls said: “He won the Pendil Novices’ Chase last year and he was good. I went back hurdling with him in those races at Wincanton and Kempton because they suited him and they were good prizes.

“He ran very well the other day at Carlisle on the wrong track for him giving everything weight and today he was back on a nice little handicap mark compared to the rest. We schooled him during the week with Sam and he went really well so we thought let’s give it a go.

“Sam gives them all a positive ride, which is ideal for that horse.”

Rubaud now looks set for a step up to Grade One level, with his trainer adding: “We have to aim high and run in something like the Tingle Creek. He has been such a pleasure of a horse. Today was probably his Gold Cup with the weights and everything, but it was an improved performance.”

The victory takes the 14-time champion trainer to 3,929 National Hunt winners, one shy of Pipe’s long-standing tally of 3,930.

And with Stick To The Board and No Drama This End both well fancied at the track on Saturday, Aintree could yet be the stage for an historic occasion.

“We’re inching closer – one to equal, two to beat,” said Nicholls.

“The horses are going fantastically well. We can’t aim to have them cherry-ripe in October. I always aim to have them ready now and this horse needed the run the other day.

“We’ve had seven or eight winners in a week and we have a nice lot of young horses.”