Gold Cup glory goes to God’s Own again
Trainer Tom George and jockey Paddy Brennan celebrate success in Exeter’s big race
An emotional Tom George greeted God’s Own after his second win in the Haldon Gold Cup – Devon’s most historic and valuable race – at Exeter Racecourse yesterday.
A livewire at home, but as honest a racehorse as you will ever see on the track, he displayed those outstanding qualities – courage, bravery and fearless determination – that prompted George’s response when he greeted his winner in the top spot.
The Gloucestershire-based trainer said: “He’s a very special horse to us and this means a lot. He has been with us since he was four and this is probably the most emotional I’ve been as a trainer.
“He loved the better ground, that’s the key to him, and he was placed in a Champion Chase last season. He has got the heart to do it still and everything was right for him. I’ve not sure what we do now, we’ll just enjoy today.”
After the last of 12 fences in the two miles one furlong race, God’s Own kept finding more and prevailed by half a length to beat the favourite Ozzie The Oscar by half a length with San Benedeto, ridden by Bryony Frost, third.
Max Fawbert, God’s Own’s owner, had travelled from Derbyshire to watch his beloved horse and said after the race: “He’s an absolute star and we’re so pleased with him. He always gives 100 per cent, and when he’s retired he’ll come home to us with the rest of our horses.”
The ten-year-old has now won more than £500,000 in prize money, with three Grade One wins and two Grade Two successes – both in the Haldon Gold Cup – to his credit.
Winning jockey Paddy Brennan expressed his delight at winning the big race, saying: “I had a plan, and it pretty much went to plan.
“I had to be asking him for big jumps a little earlier than I wanted, but he’s everything I love as he’s just so tough. I’m really pleased he was able to win and it’s lovely when a plan comes off. It’s a great race and a great racecourse. I love the place,” Brennan added.
The well-fancied Diego Du Charmil was last of the five Gold Cup runners, and his trainer Paul Nicholls said: “He took the bulb of his heel and shoe off at the second-last down the back.
“We will be able to run him in six weeks’ time. It’s not like last year when he got injured at Newton Abbot and was out until the spring.”
In beating Ozzie The Oscar, God’s Own denied Philip Hobbs a back-to-back treble but the Minehead trainer had already saddled a double, with longs odds-on favourites Cotswold Way and Crooks Peak both scoring. Neither looked like getting beaten, demonstrating the continuing good form of Hobbs’ stable.
“Right races, right horses,” said the Somerset trainer of his ongoing purple patch, before he added another win to his tally with Scoop The Pot landing the Smith and Williamson Handicap Chase.
Somerset-based Nicholls was successful with Coup De Pinceau, who won the bwin Novices’ Chase with Harry Cobden in the saddle.
The Kay Price-trained Farm The Rock (ridden by Sean Houlihan) and Misty Bloom (ridden by Adam Wedge and trained by Emma Lavelle) won the bwin Handicap Hurdle and the concluding Jockey Club Catering Handicap Hurdle, respectively.