Gold Cup or Ryanair? Eldorado Allen camp in two minds over Cheltenham target

Saturday: Newbury

The Gold Cup is the race Colin Tizzard cherishes above all others, but just when you think the trainer may have pulled a rabbit out of the hat in Eldorado Allen, who defied any stamina doubts in the Denman Chase, the trainer seemed to go cold on his favourite race.

Tizzard, a Gold Cup winner with Native River in 2018, did not enter the classy grey in the Boodles-backed Cheltenham showpiece, but did engage him in the Ryanair Chase, which he won with his horse of a lifetime Cue Card – something he was quick to remind the media of when it was suggested that race lacked the prestige of the festival showpiece.

The supplementary fee of £30,000, due six days before the Gold Cup on March 18, might be more of the problem along with the extra distance, but it is something to discuss with owners Terry Warner and John Romans.

A 6-1 shot, Eldorado Allen had been largely campaigned over two miles and was second to Shishkin in the Arkle last season, but he had been placed over the intermediate trips of Huntingdon's Peterborough Chase and the Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton before being pitched into a recognised Gold Cup trial.

Click here to watch Eldorado Allen's jumping masterclass

He emerged with distinction after repelling Royale Pagaille under Brendan Powell, earning a quote of 25-1 with Coral for the Gold Cup. The same firm offer 16-1 for the Ryanair, the same price (from 33) as Betfair, who sponsored the Denman Chase, while Paddy Power were 14-1 (from 25).

"He did stay on in the Arkle last year," said Tizzard, who has Fiddlerontheroof and Lostintranslation entered in the Gold Cup. "You thought he was a stayer more than anything at Huntingdon and we've jumped up half a mile, but a flat track and decent ground, jumping like he did, played to his strengths.

"Whether he'd stay another two furlongs up the Cheltenham hill is another thing and I'd say it was good the post was where it was today, but they are only my immediate thoughts. He's in the Ryanair and we did win that with Cue Card, which I didn't mind. Any race at Cheltenham is worth winning and he'll go where he has his best chance.

"It looks pretty obvious it's the Ryanair, but who knows what the owners will want to do."

John Romans with the winning prize after the Denman ChaseCredit: Mark Cranham

Right on hand to respond was Romans, whose Welsh National winner Elegant Escape was sixth in the 2019 Gold Cup.

"He's entered in the Ryanair, but he's a Gold Cup horse to me," he said. "We've had horses in the Gold Cup and it'd be lovely to have another. When I bought him with Terry and he won a maiden hurdle I thought he was the business. He's had problems, but is a cracking horse.

"I take Colin and [his son] Joe's advice, but I think the Gold Cup is a special race for everybody. The Grand National might be worth more money, but the Gold Cup is the prestige one."

Romans joked that a large bottle of something warm and red would likely play a part in discussions, but it sounds like his mind might already be made up.

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Tizzard considers Gold Cup as Eldorado Allen shocks in Denman Chase

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