Tizzard yard leaving the bad times behind as Eldorado Allen outguns Hitman

Tuesday: Haldon Gold Cup, Exeter

A thrilling, last-gasp success for Eldorado Allen has been hailed as evidence the Tizzard yard is moving on after some frustrating times over the last year.

The grey stayed on strongly from the final fence to snatch victory from Hitman, the well-backed favourite, who is reckoned by Paul Nicholls to have idled in the closing stages.

"Good on the horse," said a delighted Joe Tizzard, who will now consider stepping Eldorado Allen up in trip. "He stuck his head out real well and he stayed. It turned into a proper slog.

"It's just what the yard needed. It puts it all to rest a little bit from what's been going on for the last 12 months. It's nice for us, good for the owners that have supported us all the way through, and hopefully we can have a good season again."

Watch: Eldorado Allen win the Haldon Gold Cup

Asked if this victory, along with Fiddlerontheroof's big win at Carlisle on Sunday, felt like a weight off his shoulders, Tizzard replied: "Of course it does. It's all about winners. We got in the habit of having big winners and that's how we want to continue.

"Off 151, having been second in an Arkle, you had to fancy him. I think it was the right two that fought it out, so it was a solid performance."

Tizzard did not have a next race in mind for Eldorado Allen but is minded to step the horse up in trip and mentioned the Ryanair Chase as a suitable long-term target. Bookmakers make the grey a 40-1 shot for the Cheltenham Festival contest.

Terry Warner, who owns the winner in partnership with John Romans, was thrilled by the outcome. "That was exciting!" he said. "Jumping the last, I thought we were going to be second. I was surprised how well he ran on, but he had no weight."

Having backed Eldorado Allen "to win a bottle of champagne", Warner said he was most pleased for the winning jockey, Brendan Powell.

"The lad rode him well. I'm pleased because he was the stable jockey at one time and he's doing very well since they've had him back. He's a nice young lad and this is good for him."

The race had been billed as a clash between the Nicholls-trained pair Hitman and Greaneteen, conceding 17lb or more to the other five runners.

Hitman was well supported, including with one reported bet of £5,000 at 6-5 in the ring here, and supporters may have been counting their money as he cleared the last in front but, despite having the rail to help, he faltered on the run-in and gave way to the grey charging up the centre of the track.

Paul Nicholls: 'I hate getting beat but I'm thrilled he ran so well'Credit: Edward Whitaker

"I could see, going to the last, what was going to happen," Nicholls said. "He half idles a little bit when he hits the front. He jumped the last with his ears pricked and you just want to see him stick his head down and gallop all the way to the line.

"But I guess he's only five. He does everything on the bridle and travels so well. When he's off the bridle, he's just got to knuckle down.

"It'll come with experience and I think the better the race, the better he'll run, when it's likely he'll get a tow for longer. His jumping was phenomenal and then he ends up in front four-out.

"The trouble is, half the time he's won, he's been hard on the bridle. Like at Newbury and Ffos Las, he's never had to get in a battle. But it'll come. He's got a lot of potential. I hate getting beat but I'm thrilled he ran so well.

"Greaneteen had a great run. He did exactly what I thought, he blew up, and we'll get him really tuned up for the Tingle Creek now. I've left loads to work on between now and then. That'll take the freshness off him."

Hitman may also be aimed at the Tingle Creek. "You're in No Man's Land with him, rated 151. Do you really want to run in those 20-runner handicaps? You're better off going in the good races. He's got enough ability, he travels. You nearly want to run in those good races and pick one up along the way."

Results, replays and analysis

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