‘Best win in 30 years’ – Baron Alco thrills owner with BetVictor Gold Cup strike

Patience and perseverance are necessities for an owner and John Stone’s infallible fortitude paid dividends in an action-packed BetVictor Gold Cup as he witnessed the determined Baron Alco make most to land the illustrious handicap chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.

The seven-year-old suffered a suspensory injury when second to Road To Respect in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Cheltenham Festival last year, and after 577 days off the track and an encouraging return at Chepstow last month, he went one better.

Stone has owned horses for more than three decades and had no doubt over his highlight after Baron Alco held the persistent challenge of Frodon to win by two lengths.

Stone said: “This is my number one win as an owner, and by far – all the patience for over 30 years has paid off. To win what I still think as the Mackeson Gold Cup, a classic race, is thrilling.

“Baron Alco just doesn’t know when to give in. He’s so tough.”

Watch the BetVictor Gold Cup replay

Stone was a measured man after Baron Alco's victory in the £160,000 handicap chase. He felt he was in dreamland when watching it.

“Every time he jumps my heart sinks and I couldn’t believe how the race was unfolding – this is not the way these big-runner handicap chases go," the winning owner said. “He was never challenged and it was extraordinary.”

A return to Cheltenham next month for the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup could be on the horizon for Baron Alco, who was quoted at 20-1 for the Ryanair Chase by Betfair Sportsbook, with Moore eyeing £1 million in prize-money for his owners this jumps campaign.

Gary Moore, winning the race for the first time, said: “This is massive for the yard and it’s always been my ambition to win £1 million in prize-money in a jumps campaign. This will certainly help.

Baron Alco: jumps his way to victory in the BetVictor Gold CupCredit: Grossick Racing

"The handicapper will determine how far Baron Alco can go and where he goes next, but he’s a very talented horse. When he jumps like that he’s always going to win races."

Moore’s other BetVictor Gold Cup runner, Benatar, was declared an absentee after an abnormal blood analysis was revealed earlier in the day, with Jamie Moore replacing his brother Joshua on the winner. The brotherly love will not be affected.

The winning jockey, who was suspended for two days for overuse of the whip, said: “He’s a horse I always ride and once Benatar was a non-runner the switch was always going to happen.

“Josh had a fall yesterday and he’s a bit sore – it worked out good for me but Josh will be delighted too.

“My dad is a brilliant trainer. It doesn’t matter whether it’s Flat or jumps horses, he can train them all.”

The Grade 2 ABF Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on December 9 could be next for runner-up Frodon, who produced another career-best performance under Bryony Frost.

A proud-as-punch Frost said: “It was a massive run and big things await this horse. He’s run his heart out again and he has a very wise mind, he’s just a pleasure.”

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