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Tizzard emotional as JPR proves the One

Joe Tizzard fought back the tears as JPR One confirmed his stable star status when earning a return to the top table after securing the most notable success of his career in the BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

Having claimed the Grade Two prize 12 months ago with Elixir de Nutz the Milborne Port handler saw the prize remain in his clutches after the Court Cave gelding put in an assured round of jumping to land the £100,000 feature.

Sitting off the early pace, which was cut out by Sans Bruit, the 11-4 chance was always travelling well in the hands of Brendan Powell before mounting his challenge as the race began to step up gear entering the home straight.

As one of four horses to take three out virtually in line together JPR One quickly moved on with long time leader Sans Bruit, and eventual runner-up Djelo, as Etalon backed out of the equation.

A superb leap at the second last saw JPR One, who made his hurdles debut at the track a winning one in 2021, take command of matters and move into a lead he would not relinquish.

Although Djelo threw down one final challenge up the run-in, JPR One kept on finding more out in front before passing the post with three quarters of a length to spare.

Tizzard said: “We had a lovely prep and it was always the plan to come here. Brendan (Powell, jockey) said to me before that he has just got one kick and that he would ride him like the best horse in the race, and he did that. I didn’t feel so much pressure, but my horses have been flying and he is my best horse. I’m a bit emotional. I just think that he can on to bigger things.

“He has been gorgeous all his life, and we have minded him, but we have had a couple of disappointments, but that is proper. He travelled and he jumped, but once he hit the front, and he did it at Lingfield, he didn’t find as much as you expect him to, but nothing was going to beat him from two out.

“He is a really good horse. He is my future and he could go right to the top, but I won’t run him lots of times. The second half of last season he never really got his ground it was as simple as that.”

Looking ahead JPR One could now step back up to Grade One company for a tilt at the Betfair Tingle Creek at Sandown Park on December 7th.

Tizzard added: “He will have an entry in the Tingle Creek. Today was what we were thinking about though. He has won over two and a half miles over hurdles, but I don’t think we need to think about that just yet.”

Equally delighted was triumphant owner John Romans, who believes JPR One could turn out to be the best horse he has owned.

Romans said: “He didn’t miss a beat and he jumped every fence right. I would say that was his best win as he is on top of his game at the moment. He was unlucky at Cheltenham last season when he fell, but hopefully there are now better things to come. He loves this ground and he is not a heavy ground horse. We will look after and he won’t run in many races. The ground has got to be decent for him to run. I’d like to think he could be the best one I’ve had. I said to Ross Doyle (bloodstock agent) I want a good horse that is unnamed and this is what we have got so all is well. Joe is flying at the moment and it is great for him and his team.”

Williams pleased with runner-up

While pleased with the finishing effort of Djelo trainer Venetia Williams feels he could have finished even closer to the winner had met the last fence on a better stride.

Williams said: “He has done very well. He just had a bit of bad luck. He met the last one on a bit of an awkward stride and he met a few like that. He just ran out of racecourse to catch him. In fairness the winner was always cantering, but I have to be really pleased as he has run a super race and he has galloped all the way to the line.

“That is his minimum trip at this level. He is a lovely horse. They are both novices from last season which fought out the race so it would suggest they could be a good bunch.”

Teague walks over on chasing 'debut'

Grade One winning hurdler Captain Teague made a triumphant return without jumping a fence to hand Paul Nicholls a second winner on the Exeter card after being handed a walkover in the ICL Conscious Of Our Impact ‘Future Stars’ Silver Bowl Novices’ Chase.

With the field reduced to two after Deafening Silence was declared a non-runner last season’s Challow Hurdle winner was left as the sole runner in the race after his only other rival Daring Plan was taken out minutes before the start.

Although frustrated not to get Captain Teague started over fences Nicholls insisted he understood the decisions taken by his rivals not to run.

Nicholls said: “It is frustrating for everybody. I can see why Sue (Gardner) has changed her mind as at the end of the day the welfare of the horses must come first.
We would have all loved to have a good field and if the ground would have been good to soft, which you normally get, you would have had a 10 runner field.

“It is no one’s fault, it is just how the weather has played a part this year. We have had a wet September and October, which is usually dry, and this time of year it is normally wet, but it has gone the other way.

“From my point of view he is fine and both he, and the other two horses, can go somewhere else. It is disappointing for people who support the game, but they have to realise it is nobody’s fault and the most important thing is that the horses must come first.”

Sorceleur scores for Ditcheat team

Sorceleur could be in line for a quick turn around at Wincanton on Saturday after getting the ball rolling for Nicholls in the goskydive.com Novices’ Hurdle.

Having suffered an odds-on reversal on his hurdles debut at the track last month the Saint Des Saints gelding was not to suffer the same fate on this occasion.

Although pressed late on in the extended two miles test by Wellington Arch the 1/4 favourite had more than enough in hand to repel the Jonjo O’Neill-trained runner by three lengths.

Nicholls said: “We knew he would come on for that first run and that bit of experience. He has jumped very well. He was quite novicey when we first started with him so I was pleased with that.

“He wasn’t good enough the first time out, simple as. We just need to find somewhere else to give him more experience and get him handicapped as he is a big green horse. He is a nice little horse and he is in at Wincanton on Saturday. It is a £15,000 race and it wouldn’t be the biggest surprise if we did that.”

Champion jockey Cobden completed a treble on the card with a tenacious length and three quarters success aboard the Emma Lavelle-trained Tightenourbelts (7/2) in the Gallagher Insurance 'Challenger' Stayers' handicap Chase.

Baxter excited after Hijack wins

Owner Alan Baxter described Skyjack Hijack as ‘a bit special’ after supplying him with his 150th winner to move a step closer to an appearance at the Cheltenham Festival following a facile success in the Southwest Solutions Novices’ Hurdle.

Arriving on the back of handicap wins at Cartmel, Perth, Aintree and Newcastle the Jennie Candlish-trained six year old made light work of his double penalty dropped back into novice hurdle company with a stylish front running victory to bring up his five-timer. Jumping impressively out in front the 13/8 favourite gradually wound matters up from the sharp end in the extended two miles five furlong contest under Jonjo O’Neill to put both his chief market rivals Jack Black and Captain Bellamy under pressure turning in.

As Jack Black waved the white flag it was left to fellow hurdling debutant Captain Bellamy to try and make a fist of it during the closing stages, however he was unable to make any impression on the gelded son of Jet Away who powered on resolutely to score by 26 lengths.

Baxter said: “He is a bit special. What a star he has been. He has just got better and better. He loves the ground as he is a good ground horse and he just gallops and gallops. His jumping has got better and better. Today he has improved again and that was a career best.

“The double penalty didn’t worry me and the ground didn’t worry me. He was just up against better quality horses today. It is a special day for me as that is my 150th winner and I think we will be celebrating.”

And a trip to Cheltenham for the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on December 14th beckons for Skyjack Hijack according to Baxter.

He added: “He has come up against two good horses and he has won it very well. I will have a chat with Jennie and Alan (O’ Keeffe, assistant), but there is an Albert Bartlett trial at Cheltenham next month and you have got to be thinking of having a crack at that.

“He will need a break as we have run him right through the summer so he will need a couple of months off. You never know if they will go at Cheltenham so my thinking is run him in the trial and if he shapes well there we can then give him a break and go for the big one.”

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