*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
The likes of Best Mate, Cue Card and Politologue have landed the Haldon Gold Cup over the years… who will be the latest to add their name to the roll call of winners?
Greaneteen, a three-time Grade 1 scorer, is already on the list having won the race in 2020 but he has to concede more than a stone in weight to all of his four rivals in Friday’s 15:35 at Exeter.
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Arkle fourth War Lord and Maghull third Third Time Lucki will be bidding to kick off their second season over fences with a bang. Dolos and outsider Us And Them complete the field.
The latest Haldon Gold Cup odds are on the Paddy Power website, Paddy Power app or via our snazzy betting widgets, otherwise Timeform’s handy guide to the runners plus betting tips from the racing boffins can be found below.
Haldon Gold Cup runners
Greaneteen
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Harry Cobden Age: 8 Weight: 11st 12lbs
Made a winning return in this in 2020 but not as wound up when fourth 12 months ago. Went on to win 2 Grade 1s at Sandown later on in the season and his first main target is likely to be the Tingle Creek again.
****
Third Time Lucki
Trainer: Dan Skelton Jockey: Harry Skelton Age: 7 Weight: 10st 11lbs
Third chase success when easily taking a Doncaster Grade 2 in January and best effort when second to Edwardstone in the Kingmaker at Warwick following month. Jumping let him down when third in Grade 1 at Ayr final start. Looks on a good mark back in a handicap on return. Tongue tied first time.
*****
War Lord
Trainer: Joe Tizzard Jockey: Brendan Powell Age: 7 Weight: 10st 7lbs
Useful hurdler and much improved over fences last season, gaining third victory in a Lingfield novice (2m). Fourth in the Arkle at Cheltenham and second in Grade 1 at Aintree last 2 starts. This looks a good starting point.
****
Dolos
Trainer: Paul Nicholls Jockey: Lorcan Williams Age: 9 Weight: 10st 5lbs
Seems to save his best for Sandown these days, winning a handicap at the Scilly Isles meeting for the third time in February. Decent second at Warwick final start but needed reappearance last season and is 1lb out of the weights.
***
Us And Them
Trainer: Alan Jones Jockey: Tom O’Brien Age: 9 Weight: 9st 12lbs
Smart handicap chaser at best but proved unreliable for Joseph O’Brien (just 1-23 over fences, though twice placed at the Cheltenham Festival). Let down by jumping both starts for this yard and is firmly up against it from 8lb out of the handicap.
*
Haldon Gold Cup tips
Timeform: THIRD TIME LUCKI picked up a couple of Grade 2s as a novice chaser last season and appeals as being the best handicapped of this quintet. The top-class Greaneteen needed the run when fourth off this mark in this last year, so Arkle-fourth War Lord is feared most.
Read More
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