ALCO TOPS FOR JAMIE

Moore Snr is the merrier

JAMIE MOORE insisted it was not a case of the older brother bullying his younger sibling after winning the BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Brother Josh had been booked to pilot Baron Alco for his trainer father Gary.

But when Jamie’s intended ride Benatar was taken out of the race due to a bad blood count, he came in for the winning ride.

“Josh will be delighted for me,” said Jamie. “There will be no falling out.

“It has worked out well for me. But there will be no celebrations for me tonight as the wife is going out and I’m looking after the kids. I will look after Josh and we will have a drink. I am proud of what he does and my other brother Ryan (the Flat jockey) and, of course, my father – he’s a brilliant trainer.”

There was a further twist to the Moore family musical chairs when trainer Gary said: “If it was up to me, I would not have run him.

“I thought the ground was quick enough for him but thankfully the owner, John Stone, insisted that we ran.

“Of course, I’m gutted for Josh, but this horse has always been Jamie’s ride.”

Moore had the utmost confidence in his mount, making all the running and having enough up his sleeve to hold off a late challenge from Frodon and Bryony Frost.

Nicky Richards’ Guitar Pete came late to snatch third place as did Mister Whitaker, the 6-1 favourite, who finished fourth for Mick Channon.

In a contest run at a furious pace, only six of the 18 runners completed the course. Nicky Henderson’s fancied Rather Be was among those to hit the deck.

All horses returned unscathed although Tom Scudamore and Richard Patrick were taken to hospital for check-ups following their falls.

Paddy Power go 20-1 about Baron Alco returning to Cheltenham in March for the Ryanair Chase. But the question everyone will want to know – who will be riding the gelding?