Exeter Races - Haldon Gold Cup 2024 preview

Three years from its formation, the Westcountry Weekend - with graded action from both Exeter and Wincanton - has become a firm fixture for racing lovers in the region.

The idea to combine the Haldon Gold Cup and Badger Beers Day over two consecutive days has proved a huge hit with crowds flocking to the thrilling double header.

Friday sees the annual 'Devon's richest raceday' at Exeter with six declared for the feature Grade Two contest, all hoping to join a glittering alumni that counts the likes of Best Mate, Cue Card and Politologue among its former champions.

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Horses will go to post at 2.25pm for the 2m1f contest with the Joe Tizzard trained JPR One currently heading the market. The seven-year-old was last seen tailing off in the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival in March but was an impressive winner of a Grade Two at Lingfield before that.

The horse is a previous winner at this meeting back in 2021 and this a race the Tizzard yard love to target although jockey Brendan Powell will have to defy top weight.

Speaking ahead of the contest, Joe Tizzard said: “We try and plan for the Haldon Gold Cup every year if we’ve got something good enough for it.

“I was lucky enough to have won it three times as a jockey, twice for Paul (Nicholls) and once for dad with Cue Card. Dad also won it with Eldorado Allen and for me to win it last year with Freddie (Gingell, his nephew) riding was very special. Terry Warner (owner of Elixir De Nutz) was down there with his grandchildren Jack and Ella which made it a real special family day and it gave us a lot of pleasure.”

Tizzard said this had always been the plan for JPR One's season opener.

He added: “The plan this year is to take JPR One there for his first run of the season. He won his first race at Exeter, beating I Am Maximus (winner of the 2024 Randox Grand National at Aintree) and he has always been a gorgeous athletic horse.

"He won a Grade Two for us last season and probably should have won two – he was unlucky at Cheltenham (when unseating at the last). He is rated 149 – I could have gone to Cheltenham for a two-miler last weekend but I said from the middle of last season that I wanted to start off at Exeter with him.

“It tends to be six or seven good horses in the Haldon Gold Cup and they all tend to go on and be good horses after it. Exeter is a very fair track and we start a lot of good horses off there. They get good ground and while the fences are a proper test, Exeter is a fair track and the right horse tends to win.

“If JPR One is going to take the next step, he needs to run a big race in the Haldon Gold Cup. We can then look at the Tingle Creek and going down that route. He is knocking on the door but still has to do it to take the next step. If he is a Graded horse, he should put up a bold show off 149 in the Haldon Gold Cup.”

Tizzard said his family was fully behind the concept of the Westcountry Weekend.

He added: "We are Westcountry trainers and love Exeter as a track. It is a big day with the Badger Beer at Wincanton the following day as part of Westcountry Weekend and it would be a bad job if we couldn’t support it with our best horses.

"Our horses are in really cracking form at the moment and we are really looking forward to it.”

The Milborne Port handler also has Scarface in the race while trainer Dan Skelton is hoping to land the spoils with either Heltenham and Etalon.

Paul Nicholls' Sans Bruit was an impressive winner of a Grade 2 handicap chase at Aintree in April and will hope to improve on his seasonal reappearance after a disappointing follow up when beaten favourite at Ayr last time out.

But the closest challenge to the favourite could come from Djelo for Venetia Williams who kicked off last season with three straight wins at Aintree, Newbury and Ascot and was placed third at the Turners Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

This is normally the time of the season when Venetia's horses start coming alive - so could be one to keep onside.

OUR SELECTION

JPR One - The Tizzards love this race and the seven-year-old looks primed to run a big one.

OUR OTHER SELECTIONS FOR HALDON GOLD CUP DAY

12:40PM - Captain Bellamy

1:15PM - Sorceleur

1:50PM - Deafening Silence

3PM - Brendas Asking

3.35PM - Egbert

4:10PM - King of the Road

Down the A30 and A303 at Wincanton on Saturday is day 2 of the West Country weekend with the highlights being the historic Badgers Beer handicap chase, the Elite Hurdle and a Grade 2 "Rising Stars" Novice Chase.

PICKS OF THE MEETING

2.23PM - An open looking renewal but one to keep on side could be the four-year-old Peaky Boy who won on both starts for hurdles for his new trainer Nicky Henderson at Cheltenham last season.

2.55PM - Rubaud looks a solid favourite in the Elite Hurdle for Paul Nicholls to follow up on his success in this race last year. But the six-year-old tailed off in heavy ground at Wincanton in the Kingwell Hurdle in February and was beaten on that day by Nemean Lion, who reopposes in this. Kerry Lee's seven-year-old has been dissapointing since at the big Spring festivals but if back to his best could throw down a strong challenge to the market leader.

3.30PM - The Badger Beer Handicap Chase is a typically competitive contest with many chances and the market is currently led by Lord Accord for trainer Neil Mulholland. But one to have on the shortlist should be Copperhead for Joe Tizzard who is unbeaten in last three starts - including an impressive success in a Veteran's Handicap Chase at Aintree last month.

Whatever the result, the success of the West Country Weekend has given a strong boost to the region's racing with healthy crowds expected over the two days.

Jack Parkinson, General Manager of Exeter Racecourse said: “The Westcountry Weekend is a key highlight in the Jump racing calendar, and we’re looking forward to kicking it off with BETMGM Haldon Gold Cup Day on Friday.

"It is always a competitive race, and this year’s renewal looks set to be an exciting contest.”