JPR One heads the lists as Joe Tizzard looks to add to stable's Haldon Gold Cup haul at Exeter

This race has a rich history and plenty of top-class chasers won it in the 1990s and early 2000s, including the likes of Waterloo Boy, Travado, Viking Flagship, Best Mate, Edredon Bleu and Azertyuiop, who was the third of a record eight winners in the event for Paul Nicholls.

Nicholls has won four of the last ten runnings and two more in the last decade went to either Colin or Joe Tizzard. It therefore should be no surprise that half of the six runners this year are from the Nicholls and Tizzard yards, with Tizzard saddling two in JPR One and Scarface.

Topweights have won two of the last five runnings, with Janika successful off a mark of 162 in 2019 and Greaneteen winning off 168 two seasons ago, but this time JPR One is rated just 149, suggesting this year’s running lacks the stars of the past.

Scarface is at the other end of the weights and Elixir De Nutz carried bottom weight when winning for the Tizzard team last year, if you include his rider Freddie Gingell’s claim. The Tizzard yard also won it three years ago with Eldorado Allen under only 10st 7lb.

Brendan Powell has ridden Scarface on his last 13 starts and has opted for JPR One, but Harry Cobden has been booked to replace him and has a 14 per cent record for the yard in recent years.

Scarface (right): to be partnered by Harry Cobden in the Haldon Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bryony Frost is an eyecatching booking for the Nicholls-trained Sans Bruit, on whom she will be having only her third ride in Britain this season. Sans Bruit was impressive in a handicap at Aintree in April, but doesn’t look the sort of Grade 1 horse that Nicholls has run here before.

Venetia Williams will probably be hoping Djelo might be up to going back into Grade 1 company in time, though. The six-year-old has competed in the top grade on his last three starts and finished third in the last running of the Turners at Cheltenham in March.

Grey Dawning and Ginny’s Destiny were the only horses to beat him that day and there doesn’t look to be anything of that quality in this line-up, so this is clearly a drop in class.

Dan Skelton has Grey Dawning at home and runs Etalon as he bids to continue his title charge. He finished a place ahead of Djelo in a Grade 1 at Aintree last time when both runners had probably had enough for the season and this should be a fascinating rematch.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

'He should take all the beating'

This date has long been circled by trainer Joe Tizzard as it is the day he has been building JPR One up for since the end of last season.

There were plenty of positives to take from JPR One’s first season over fences, with a Grade 2 victory at Lingfield in January and a third in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December.

His two runs at Cheltenham did not go quite as well, but the summer months have been spent preparing for this day as JPR One seeks to emulate Elixir De Nutz, the winner of this Grade 2 last year for Tizzard.

JPR One has had a wind operation and will be wearing a first-time tongue tie and Tizzard, who also runs Scarface, said: “This has been the target for JPR One all the way through the summer. All of his work has been good and we've had a good clear run with him. 

“He's got top weight but his form ties in with horses that have run well in competitive races so far this season. I'm expecting a real bold show from him, he should take all the beating. 

Scarface: "fit as a flea" says trainer Joe TizzardCredit: Edward Whitaker

“Scarface has had a race so he's as fit as a flea. This is probably about his trip and it's a six-runner £100,000 race so ideal to have a go.”

The Tizzards and Paul Nicholls have shared this race between themselves over the last four years, and this time around it falls to Sans Bruit to try and land the prize for Nicholls.

Owned by Andy Peake, the six-year-old’s reappearance has prompted the welcome return of Bryony Frost to Britain on a flying visit from France, where she rides as first jockey for owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Frost, who also rides Asian Spice for her father, Jimmy, in the 2m2½f mares’ hurdle (3.00), partnered Sans Bruit to victory in the Grade 3 Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree in April and is making the most of a gap in the French jump racing calendar to maintain her partnership on the horse.

Bryony Frost: back aboard Sans Bruit in the Haldon Gold CupCredit: GROSSICK RACING

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

“The owner was keen to keep Bryony on, which is understandable as she gave him a good ride at Aintree in the spring. It’s just a flying visit from her as she’s got a good job in France now, but the owner was keen for her to come over for the ride."

Dan Skelton has never won the Haldon Gold Cup and sends two in a bid to change that, with Etalon favoured by the market and Harry Skelton.

Skelton, who also runs Heltenham, said: "Etalon has a big chance I think. We’ve had this race in mind for some time, although it’s highly competitive. The only time he disappointed last season was in the Grade 1 [Maghull Novices' Chase], but the rest of the time he looked really progressive. The ground will probably be too good and too sharp for Heltenham, but I need to get a run into him."
Reporting by Peter Scargill

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