Haldon Gold Cup Tips: Skelton First String Well Fancied
Friday's ITV Racing coverage sees its feature race come to our screens from Exeter as the Grade 2 Haldon Gold Cup takes place at 14:25. There are a host of well regarded young chasers in here, with most possessing excellent records when fresh, but Billy Grimshaw has plumped for one he thinks is destined for the very top...
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He would not be in the leagues of his mentor Paul Nicholls when it comes to bullishness regarding the wellness of his horses and their eventual ambitions, but Dan Skelton is often optimistic about the future for his horses when interviewed pre or post race, particularly his younger sorts. The last time we saw his first string here (and potentially his only runner if Heltenham is withdrawn as expected on account of the good ground) ETALON was finishing well off the leading contenders in the Grade One Maghull, won by Found A Fifty. Perhaps that was a bridge too far for the seven year old but it was telling Skelton on his penultimate start before that run was so confident in his interview and was so willing to give his horse a shot in the Grade One. His confidence was easy to understand as prior to that seventh placed Aintree flop, he had made quite the impression over fences, racking up an easy hat trick and looking every inch ready to tackle the very best.
He was sent off just 9/1 at Aintree which showed the high regard he was held in, and no doubt still is held in, at home but his chance was all but gone when at the start of the race he was carried right by another runner, making a mess of the first and then never being given a hard time by Harry Skelton or getting further than mid division. One suspects Harry knew his fate was sealed there and was playing for place money, but with a horse who prior to that big day on Merseyside had always been ridden prominently this was a tough assignment. He did have the reopposing Djelo a place behind him at Aintree and I fancy he'll confirm that form considering they were off levels that day whereas the Skelton runner is here in receipt of six pounds, for all that we must feat Venetia's runners as the winter begins.
On ratings the one they all have to beat is JPR One for Joe Tizzard, who loves to win this race having won it thrice as a rider, once as assistant trainer with the legendary Cue Card and of course last season with Elixir De Nutz. The team sound confident and their horse was a markedly better prospect at the beginning of last season compared to the spring, when his form tapered off, however I'm not convinced he is a good enough animal to be giving Etalon eight pounds and a beating, for all this is his local track.
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All three of the market leaders kicked off their 2023/24 campaigns with impressive wins, but it is tough to say JPR One did not do things best in surprising many and scooping a Lingfield Grade 2 en route to the Arkle, where he was brushed aside by Gaelic Warrior. This horse jumps brilliantly on his day but also has mistakes in him and with a definite pace angle in the shape of Sans Bruit, with Bryony Frost back on these shores for the ride, his jumping will be really put to the test. Djelo also has mistakes in him and that is another reason I am avoiding him, but Etalon should relish having a strong pace to chase and if Sans Bruit can take them along for as long as he did at Ayr when finishing third things should set up perfectly.
The only horse in here with race fitness on his side is the Tizzard second string Scarface, but considering the lacklustre nature of his run first time out and the fact that plenty in here are better horses fresh than when hard fit, I'm not sure that is much of an advantage. He does have reigning champion Harry Cobden booked to ride, which to me is always a positive regardless of who Cobden is replacing in the plate, but it'll take a career best performance and then some for him to get involved should the four shorter than him in the market fire.
Heltenham could complete the field or could be pulled out due to ground, and if he runs he has to reverse a large winning margin with Sans Bruit at Aintree in a handicap at last season's Grand National Festival. He would at least have a weight swing in here to close that gap, but on jockey bookings it looks like the stable are more keen on Etalon and I am too, with ground no bother, assured jumping and the presence of real pace making this race look tailormade for him.
