Eldorado Allen capitalised on Gumball’s dramatic exit at the second-last fence to win the From The Horse’s Mouth Podcast Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.
Gumball had led from the start in the hands of Richard Johnson – and was still in control when taking a crashing fall.
That left Eldorado Allen, trained by Colin Tizzard, with a clear advantage which he maintained all the way to the line to give Robbie Power a double after his earlier success aboard Duffle Coat.
Quel Destin just held the challenge of Le Patriote to claim second place, 19 lengths behind the winner.
The big disappointment of the race was the hot favourite Fusil Raffles, who was never jumping and eventually pulled up.
Tizzard said: “He was a very good hurdler. His jumping, even when he got in close, he didn’t lose anything. As all jockeys would say, he hadn’t really gone for him (when Gumball fell), but that is what all jockeys say. I thought he had a bit to do.
“He is the best two-miler we’ve had on hurdle form going over fences. He has taken to his fences well. We shall campaign with Cheltenham in mind, that’s for sure. He will want a race in a month’s time as we can wait until the spring.
“He has just jumped nice – he was good at Newton Abbot and better here today. We schooled him on Wednesday, just to do it for the sake of it as we thought we are coming to Cheltenham so we better remind him and he jumped everything in front of him fine.
“I would have thought so (Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown), if that is the next one. If Joe said it is that is the one we will go for.”
Eldorado Allen was quoted at 25-1 for the Sporting Life Arkle Trophy with Coral and 20-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power.
De Boinville strikes On The Blind Side
On The Blind Side made a successful return to the smaller obstacles to land the Paddy Power Games Handicap Hurdle, after running over fences and in a jumpers’ bumper.
Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old took the lead before the second-last flight and kept on stoutly, despite being strongly challenged.
Ridden by Nico de Boinville, On The Blind Side (7-1) held Mrs Milner by a neck with last year’s winner Golan Fortune a length and three-quarters away in third.
Henderson said: “He has been a great servant. He has been the most lovely horse all along, but he just got high in the weights. He just does love to have plenty of space. That’s where it is difficult over fences in those big fields. He doesn’t like getting crowded too much.
“He is a good chaser, but he just might be a tad better over hurdles. He really stuck on well and he was very brave. He loved it. Everything else I have run has got completely stuck in the mud, so we needed one to go in.
“It would definitely make you think that way (to stay over hurdles). We might have to look at one of those (graded staying races) as he is bound to go up a bit, but he has only won by a neck and he was giving the other horse weight.
“I’m thrilled for Alan (Spence, owner), that is a good tonic for him as he has had an operation. He is coming out this afternoon, but all is well and hopeful that will make him feel even better.”
De Boinville said: “He loved it back over hurdles, despite the ground. He loves having his own bit of space, it’s always quite hard in those big field chases to find a little bubble, but there today he’s really enjoyed it and he loves the hurdle game.
“He really knuckled down and found all the way to the line, he had to as well.”
Asked about his thoughts on riding Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Shishkin again this season, he added: “I’m looking forward to it. We’ve got lots of nice horses to come out, some already have, so here’s to a good season ahead.”