BetVictor Gold Cup
Cheltenham 14:25 Grade 3 Handicap Chase, £160,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 78y, Class 1
Saturday 12th November 2016

1 Taquin Du Seuil 8/1
2 Village Vic 20/1
3 Buywise 12/1
4 Aso 14/1
NR: Stilletto (IRE), Tenor Nivernais (FR)
17 ran Distances: nk, 2l, 3l
TIME 5m 16.60s (slow by 18.60s)

Taquin Du Seuil and Aidan Coleman get the better of Village Vic in a cracking finish

Trainer Jonjo O'Neill was delighted with the performance of 8/1 shot Taquin Du Seuil, who left it late to snatch today's feature race, the £160,000 BetVictor Gold Cup.

Turning for home, the race looked between the Philip Hobbs-trained Village Vic and the Venetia Williams-trained Aso, as the eventual winner was being ridden along behind this pair by jockey Aidan Coleman.

However, the winner stayed on strongly to eat into Village Vic's lead after the final fence and collared the 20/1 shot by a neck on the line.

The nine-year-old had been a high-class novice performer two years ago and had landed the JLT Novices' Chase at The Festival in 2014. The trainer admitted things hadn't quite gone to plan since then but hoped he could reach that sort of level again.

"He was good there," said O'Neill, celebrating his first winner in November.

"He did everything right. He jumped well, travelled well and the drop of rain helped last night. The plan came together well. He's been in great form at home - he had a lovely preparation and ran a lovely race at Chepstow when the ground was a little too quick for him. He's had no hiccups since so we were very happy with him.

"Turning for home, I thought we were in trouble. He kept galloping though and got the trip well. It helps that he really likes this place. I think he is better than a handicapper but they often dawdle in conditions races which doesn't suit him.

"He wants a good gallop but we've always thought he would do well over three miles and further but it hasn't worked out yet.

"I didn't want it too soft for him but the drop of rain we did have suited him well. We'll probably come back with him here in December (the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup) though I'm not sure. We'll talk to Martin (Broughton - owner) and see."

O'Neill was disappointed with the 7/2 favourite More Of That, who was pulled up after struggling for a long way.

"He was very disappointing really. I don't know what happened but he seemed to be going great at home but he was beaten a long way out. He was never really going the last mile.

"I think we're in trouble with him. We'll have to wait and see."

Nine-year-old Village Vic is trained by Philip Hobbs, who said: "The obvious thing is to come back here in a month's time for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup. Actually, he's run the race of his life. I thought jumping the last he'd win, but that's not where the winning post is, is it? So he's run really well."

Betvictor Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
£160,000 added, 4yo plus, 2m 4f 78y, Class 1
17 ran
Going: Soft, Good to Soft in places