THAT’S MOORE LIKE IT AS ALCO STRIKES GOLD
BARON ALCO led from flagfall to record a determined, popular and unlikely BetVictor Gold Cup triumph at Cheltenham for fatherand-son team Gary and Jamie Moore.
The seven- year- old spent 577 days on the sidelines after suffering a leg injury at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2017, returning with a head second at Chepstow last month.
But, making every yard of the running under his rider, replacing younger brother Josh after his original mount, Benatar, was pulled out on account of Cheltenham’s drying ground, Baron Alco responded bravely to pressure to hold top weight Frodon and Bryony Frost by two lengths.
As the crowd cheered in the 8-1 winner – only six of the 18 who set out finished the course – Moore snr revealed Baron Alco had very nearly joined his stabl emat e on the absentee list.
“I was very worried. I thought the ground was quick enough for him,” said the Horsham trainer.
“He picked up his injury here in 2017 and it has always been a concern, but when he galloped last Saturday, he was very impressive and I thought, ‘ This horse is in a good place.’
“I’m gutted for Josh, but this horse and Jamie are made for each other.”
The winning jockey said: “Dad’s a master trainer. Flat horses, jumps horses, it doesn’t matter – he can train anything. He’s got to win the National next –with Traffic Fluide!”
Also Aintree-bound is Rock The Kasbah (above), strong at the finish of the three-mile, three-furlong BetVictor.com Handicap Chase under champion jockey Richard Johnson, who holds the unenviable record of 20 losing rides in the world’s most famous steeplechase.
“The main thing we’ve been talking about for some time is the Grand National, so I think that’s probably the route,” revealed Philip Hobbs responsible for Johnson’s National runners- up What’s Up Boys (2002) and Balthazar King (2014).
The 2015 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Coneygree finished third in the BetVictor Handicap Chase on his first outing for 350 days.
SILVER STREAK can land the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle (3.00) at Cheltenham today. The Evan Williams-trained grey won the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock in May and lifted the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las last month.