JPR One tops the charts as Joe Tizzard looks to add to his Haldon Gold Cup stock at Exeter

This race has a rich history and was won by many top class hunters in the 1990s and early 2000s, including the likes of Waterloo Boy, Travado, Viking Flagship, Best Mate, Edredon Bleu and Azertyuiop, who was third eight record races. The winner of the tournament was Paul Nicholls.

Nicholls has won four of his last ten races, with two more in the last decade going to either Colin or Joe Tizzard. It is therefore no surprise that half of this year’s six runners are from the Nicholls and Tizzard yard, with Tizzard saddling two in JPR One and Scarface.

Superweights have won two of the last five races, with Janika winning at 162 in 2019 and Grinteen winning at 168 two seasons ago, but this time JPR One has a rating of just 149, suggesting that this year’s race is lacking stars of the past.

Scarface is at the other end of the weight class, and Elixir De Nutz was the lowest weight when he won for Team Tizzard last year, given the statement of his rider Freddie Gyngell. Tizzard’s yard also won it three years ago with Eldorado Allen under 10lb to 7lb.

Brendan Powell rode Scarface in his last 13 starts and chose JPR One, but Harry Cobden was cautioned to replace him and has a 14 per cent record at the yard in recent years.

Bryony Frost is an attractive option for Nicholls’ trainers. Sans Bruiton which she will make only her third trip to Britain this season. Sans Bruit performed impressively at the Aintree Handicap in April, but he is nothing like the Grade 1 horse Nicholls has ridden here before.

Venetia Williams will probably hope Gelo although he may eventually have to return to 1st Class Company. The six-year-old has performed at a top level in his last three starts and finished third in Turners’ last running at Cheltenham in March.

Gray Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny were the only horses to beat him that day and there doesn’t appear to be anything like it in this line-up, so it’s a clear drop in class.

Dan Skelton is at Gray Dawn and he’s running Reference as he offers to continue fighting for the title. Last time out at Aintree he finished in place ahead of Gelo in the first grade when both runners were likely to have enough for the season and it should have been a thrilling rematch.
Analysis by Graham Rodway

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“He has to take all the hits.”

Coach Joe Tizzard has had this date circled for some time now as it is a day he has been preparing JPR One for since the end of last season.

There were many positives to take from JPR One’s first season over fences, with a Grade 2 win at Lingfield in January and third in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novice Race at Sandown in December.

His two runs at Cheltenham did not go so well, but the summer months have been spent preparing for this day as JPR One aims to emulate Elixir De Natz, last year’s Grade 2 winner for Tizzard.

JPR One has been running with the wind and will be wearing a tie on the tongue for the first time, with Tizzard, who also manages Scarface, saying: “This has been JPR One’s goal all summer. All his work was good and we worked well with him.

“He has excellent weight but his form is consistent with horses that have performed well in competitive racing this season. I expect a real bold show from him, he must withstand all the blows.

“Scarface has raced, so he’s as fit as a flea. It’s probably about his ride and it’s a six-runner race worth £100,000 so perfect for him to have a go.”

Tizzard and Paul Nicholls have shared the race for the past four years, and this time Sans Bruitt will try to secure the prize for Nicholls.

The reappearance of the Andy Peake-owned six-year-old has sparked Bryony Frost’s long-awaited return to the UK on a flying visit from France, where she is serving as first jockey for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Suede.

Frost, who also rides Asian Spice for her father Jimmy in the 2m 2½ft (3.00) Mares’ Hurdle, partnered Sans Bruit to win the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap at Aintree in April and makes the most of the backlog in the French racing calendar to maintain her riding partnership.

Nicholls said: “He’s not the biggest horse and I don’t think he’ll mind the ground, in fact I think he’ll probably appreciate the opportunity to run on such a surface. He is in good shape and had an away day as part of his preparation.

“The owner was keen for Bryony to stay and understandably so as she gave him a good ride to Aintree in the spring. This is just her visit as she now has a good job in France, but the owner really wanted her to come for a ride.”

Dan Skelton has never won the Haldon Gold Cup and is sending two in an attempt to change that, with the market favoring the Benchmark and Harry Skelton.

Skelton, who also manages Heltenham, said: “I think Etalon have a great chance. We have been thinking about this race for some time, although it is very competitive. The only time he disappointed last season was in Grade 1 (Maghull Novices). Chase), but the rest of the time he looked really progressive. The earth would probably be too nice and too sharp for that. Heltenhambut I need to fight him.”
Reporting by Peter Scargill

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Read the following:

Rare visitor Bryony Frost is set to light up Exeter on Haldon Cup day at Devon’s biggest competition of the year.

1.50 Exeter: Paul Nicholls eagerly awaits captain Teague’s rookie chase with impressive roll call

3.00 Exeter: ‘She’s got a chance in the last race’ – Jimmy Frost hopes to make daughter Bryony an Asian Spice winner

3.35 Exeter: ‘I’m happy with him and we’re ready to go’ – key analysis and quotes for competitive handicap chase

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