Betway Haldon Gold Cup Chase |
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| Grade 2, Exeter 15:35 £80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 1f 109y, Class 1  |
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1 Greaneteen 7/2
2 Dolos 17/2
3 War Lord
15/8
5 ran Distances: 7l, 14l, 7½l
Time: 4m 11.30s (slow by 6.30s)
Tingle Creek next for Greaneteen after trouncing the opposition in the Haldon Gold Cup Chase @ExeterRaces under @CobdenHarry for an in-form @PFNicholls pic.twitter.com/eWvMp4XmfF https://t.co/ZxbJ6tl34e via @RacingBetter
— RacingBetter (@RacingBetter) November 4, 2022
The winner of the race in 2020, Greaneteen was only fourth to Eldorado Allen last season, but made no mistake this time around in the hands of Harry Cobden.
Conceding over a stone to his rivals, Greaneteen erased any doubts about his early-season fitness as he took the field along at a good gallop.
The strong pace meant War Lord was under the pump as the field entered the home straight and Third Time Lucki was soon beaten off as Greaneteen led home a Ditcheat one-two, with the Lorcan Williams-ridden Dolos coming home seven lengths adrift for the silver medal.
All roads now lead to the Tingle Creek at Sandown, for which he was trimmed to 3-1 from 5-1 by QuinnBet.
“I’m half not surprised as I had said in the paper that he has been working better than ever and he seems stronger than ever. We were very happy with him and he was very fit,” said Nicholls.
“Last year I had problems with him and I didn’t have him ready, and I knew I had to use this as a prep for the Tingle Creek. Today, if we were coming here, we were going to have him ready and he was.
“I said to Harry ‘if there is no pace, just jump off and go a good gallop as all he does is stay’. That was a great weight-carrying performance. Dolos has run a blinder as he was ready for his life, but he is not the level of the winner.
“When he winged the third last, he just kept on galloping. That was a seriously good performance and puts him right up there. He has never really had the credit he deserves.
“Off 168, it is amazing performance in a handicap. Denman won what was the Hennessy of 174 and that is nearly up there with that. I had one bet today and that was him.”
Haldon Gold Cup Chase
(Limited Handicap)
£80,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 2m 1f 109y, Class 1
5 ran
Going: Good
1 Greaneteen 8 11-12 Paul Nicholls Harry Cobden 7/2
2 7 Dolos 9 10-6 Paul Nicholls Lorcan Williams 17/2
3 14 War Lord 7 10-7 Joe Tizzard Brendan Powell 15/8
4 7½ Third Time Lucki 7 10-11 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 7/5F
PU Us And Them 9 10-6 Alan Jones Tom O'Brien 50/1
