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Eldorado Allen causes minor upset in Denman Chase at Newbury

Updated / Saturday, 12 Feb 2022 16:24
Eldorado Allen (near side) clears the water jump at Newbury
Eldorado Allen (near side) clears the water jump at Newbury

Eldorado Allen relished the step up to three miles in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury to dent some lofty reputations.

Up against dual King George VI Chase winner Clan Des Obeaux and Betfair Chase runner-up Royale Pagaille, the Colin Tizzard-trained grey looked to have it to do.

However, plenty felt he held some sort of a chance as he was steadily backed throughout the day to be sent off at just 6-1 under Brendan Powell.

Having won the Haldon Gold Cup over almost two and a quarter miles first time out this season, the eight-year-old had to prove his stamina but Brendan Powell was positive on him.

He helped set the pace until David Bass took over on Imperial Aura, although despite putting in some big leaps on the way by the time Kim Bailey's charge reached four from home he had stopped quickly and failed to finish once more.

That left Eldorado Allen in front and while Clan Des Obeaux was under pressure early in the straight, Royale Pagaille had made good progress to challenge but he could never quite get on terms.

Eldorado Allen kept on strongly after the last and while he holds an entry in the Ryanair Chase next month, connections will have to weigh up whether to supplement for the Gold Cup or not.

Tizzard said: "He was given a great ride by Brendan again. We were pretty convinced he was a three-miler. Whether he is a three-mile-and-two-furlong horse (Gold Cup trip) is something else.

"I’m sure we will talk about supplementing him for the Gold Cup for a week or two. The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup. I would say there is any one of 14 horses who could win the Gold Cup.

"He is in the Ryanair. We did win the Ryanair with Cue Card and we didn’t mind that!

"Any race at Cheltenham is worth winning and he has got to go where he has his best chance. It looks pretty obvious it is the Ryanair, but who knows what the owners will want to do.

"Fiddlerontheroof and Lostintranslation are in the Gold Cup. Lostintranslation might even drop back to the Ryanair. Fiddler is a strong stayer. We held him back because of the National weights and he will be out in a week or 10 days."

Funambule Sivola (9-4) made most of the running to win the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase and continue the golden run of Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

The pair can do little wrong at present and having earned plenty of prize money at Lingfield's Winter Million meeting Williams provided Deutsch with his first Grade One win last weekend, when L’Homme Presse cruised to victory in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

With Gary Moore’s Editeur Du Gite pulled out of the Newbury feature not long after declarations on Thursday, the way was left clear for Funambule Sivola to dictate matters in front.

The diminutive seven-year-old might not get very high at his fences, but one thing he does do is get to the other side quickly.

Last year’s winner Sceau Royal adopted his usual stalking role under new pilot James Bowen, only to get in tight to the fourth-last and always be on the back foot thereafter.

Hitman travelled smoothly for a long way and looked a threat running to two out, but Funambule Sivola never missed a beat up the home straight and it was left to Sceau Royal to chase him home, beaten two lengths.

Williams said: "It was really thrilling. As you can see he is a small horse, but such an intelligent jumper. Not only is he intelligent, he is so quick with it.

"I thought with the ground drying, which it obviously was going to do all week, even though it was going against Royale Pagaille (in the Denman Chase), this fellow was going to handle it. This fellow is not short of pace.

"For the time being, he is a two-miler. It is quite clear the route he should take for the immediate future.

"The Queen Mother Champion Chase is to be discussed, but I don't think it will be a long discussion!

"I will talk to the owners, but yes. A few horses have got close to Shishkin, only for Shishkin to look behind him and scoot away at the last.

"Today was a stronger performance. I try to avoid having any expectations, but he has fulfilled hopes, let’s put it that way."

Glory And Fortune (20-1) held off I Like To Move It to provide jockey Stan Sheppard and trainer Tom Lacey with victory in the valuable Betfair Hurdle.

The novice Jetoile made sure the race was run at its usual helter-skelter pace, but running to three out he had faded and Glory And Fortune was left in front.

That was probably sooner than Sheppard wanted, but there were still a handful of the favourites travelling apparently well.

Among them were the Nicky Henderson-trained duo Broomfield Burg and First Street, I Like To Move It and last year's winner Soaring Glory.

Glory And Fortune nicked a couple of lengths on the run to the second-last, however, and it proved crucial.

Everything else was soon off the bridle and while Nigel Twiston-Davies’ novice I Like To Move It emerged from the pack to throw down a late challenge and was closing with every stride, the line came in time for the winner who held on by a short head.

First Street was third, with Lord Baddesley making late gains for fourth.

Lacey said: "It is a huge handicap and I knew he deserved to have a run in it and as hopeful as we were, you never actually believe you are going to win it.

"He ran a cracker in the Christmas Hurdle, but they crabbed it and said others didn’t show up, which is probably half-true. I thought he ran Epatante to the line and it was a taking performance.

"We have learned more about the horse this year than ever before. We used to ride him handy and he has improved from being dropped in and we are not as hard on him as we once were. And he is just thriving.

"Of course, having the entrapment (a growth of scar tissue) removed in his larynx, everything has come together.

"He was not blowing at all. Jerry (Hinds, owner) will definitely want to run in the Champion Hurdle – without a doubt. It can happen. God willing and he is sound tomorrow, and eats up and all is well in the lead up to the race, Jerry will want to run him in it without doubt."

Paul Nicholls was able to breathe a sigh of relief as one of his stable stars, Bravemansgame (8-11F), booked his Cheltenham Festival ticket in style.

The champion trainer chose to run the seven-year-old, who remains unbeaten over fences, in handicap company and he was giving 16lb to some useful rivals in Pats Fancy and Grumpy Charley.

There was to be no messing around for Harry Cobden, who bounced Bravemansgame into an early lead to put his excellent jumping to good use.

Quick and nimble at his fences on the way round, the pace soon proved too much for Gallyhill – but just as Cobden was looking to stretch away, he met the fourth-last fence a little wrong, getting in tight and giving Pats Fancy a chance.

Bravemansgame was soon back on an even keel and a good jump two out sent him clear. Cobden kept him up to his work after the last to beat Pats Fancy by three and a half lengths.

Nicholls said: "I have left plenty to work on. I didn’t want to come here really fit and not improve. I learned when I had Kauto Star and Denman when they came here and went on to Cheltenham that we ran them a little bit short and that race the would bring them on.

"He hasn’t run since Kempton and he’s been mad fresh. That is probably because we haven’t done much with him.

"We’ve left a bit on for him to improve from today. I’m pleased with what he has done. It was a super job.

"We are going into the three-miler in good shape and we are thrilled with that, obviously, and looking forward to going to Cheltenham."

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Accreditation: PA

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