Stage Star stands firm after late mistake to secure Cheltenham triumph

Paul Nicholls’s Stage Star, the 4-1 favourite, made all the running under a big weight and survived a significant mistake at the final fence to register a brave success in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on Saturday, with Notlongtillmay and Il Ridoto, a stable companion of the winner, next across the line.

Stage Star and The Real Whacker, also a Grade One winner at the Festival in March and the only horse carrying more weight than Stage Star, were at the head of affairs from the off, but Stage Star was the one that pressed on from three out as one by one, his rivals dropped away.

Harry Cobden had a useful lead from Notlongtillmay at the last, but Stage Star dived over it and landed steeply, losing valuable momentum before his rider picked him up and set off up the hill, eventually crossing the line four lengths to the good.

Stage Star was cut from 12-1 to 4-1 by Paddy Power and Betfair for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Quick GuideGreg Wood’s Sunday tipsShow

Newcastle: 12.25 Lochnaver, 12.55 Temple City, 1.28 Alfred, 2.00 Lou Lou’s Gift, 2.38 Bella Kopella, 3.14 Top Gun Tina, 3.45 Martin’s Brig.

Fontwell: 12.30 Classic Lord, 1.00 Rose Sea Has, 1.33 Word Has It, 2.04 Tommie Beau, 2.43 Steven Seagull, 3.19 Captain Claude, 3.50 Sam’s Amour.

Cheltenham: 1.10 The Kemble Brewery, 1.45 Crebilly, 2.20 City Chief (nb), 2.55 Jonbon, 3.30 Go Dante (nap), 4.00 Moon Chime.

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“He did well to win, you don’t often make mistakes like that, lose your momentum and gallop on. If he had not done that, then he would have won very well,” said Nicholls. “It’s been a bit of a challenge to get him right, as he’s not one who wants to be taken away for a gallop, he’s not been anywhere, we’ve just got him right at home. He’s good fresh but it’s about getting that balance right between being fresh and good enough to win like today.

“This has been a target from when he came and if he hadn’t made that mistake at the last, he would have been really impressive. He’s got to be a Ryanair horse hasn’t he on that, he’s going to keep improving and his season will be geared back from that. He has to go left-handed and there’s no point going anywhere else with him, [the] Ryanair will be the aim now.”