'He’s my bright spark' - JPR One puts in classy display to defy top weight in Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter

JPR One defied top weight to land the Bet MGM Haldon Gold Cup for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell at Exeter.

The seven-year-old travelled notably well and picked up in the home straight to beat the favourite Djelo by three-quarters of a length.

JPR One was halved in price to 50-1 (from 100) by Paddy Power for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Tizzard said: “He travels so well and he jumps nicely. He’s my bright spark. We’d had a lovely prep with him and it was always the plan to come here. He’s a good horse.”

It was a second consecutive victory in the £100,000 race for Tizzard having struck with Elixir De Nutz last year. Tizzard won the race three times as a jockey, including aboard Cue Card, who was one of two winners of the race for his father Colin.

Powell celebrated a second victory in the contest, having ridden Eldorado Allen to success for Tizzard snr three years ago.

The winning rider said: “We’ve loved this horse for quite a long time and he gave me a feel of what he can do.

“He can still improve off this return and he enjoyed the ground. He’s got one run at the finish so you have to time it right. These races are hard to win and Joe and everyone involved works really hard for days like today.”

Sans Bruit, a first ride back in Britain for the now France-based Bryony Frost, made the running but could only manage third.

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