Eldorado Allen on course for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup

The well-supported nine-year-old challenged the lead before finishing fourth in a race that was clocked over 13 seconds faster than the standard.

Eldorado Allen, owned by John Romans and Terry Warner, has won four of his 16 starts over fences and was a respectable third to Allaho in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham after winning last season’s Denman Chase.

Trainer Joe Tizzard is keen to return to Prestbury Park for next month’s Blue Riband event, although he admitted Eldorado Allen, who has an overall chance of 66/1, would fight for minor honours.

“There was a bit of disappointment, but as it turned out, they went too fast,” Tizzard said of his recent performance under Brendan Powell.

“The front three horses attacked each other and knocked themselves out. It was a very fast time and suitable for hold-up horses.

“In hindsight we should have just caught up behind the top two but that wasn’t the tactic that was out there so I think you can just follow through with that run.

“John and Terry are still very keen to run at a Gold Cup so we’ll take our chance and at best he could get a spot.”

In the meantime, Elixir De Nutzwho finished a notable second place behind Funambule Sivola in the Game Spirit Chase with the same card seems poised to get back on the road.

The nine-year-old, owned by Warner, has proven extremely consistent, winning three of his 11 starts over fences and finishing second on a further four occasions.

Though he stayed on course after finding the pace a bit quick in the extended second-class two-mile event, Tizzard believes he’ll be better with the extra distance.

“Unless it’s a bit soft, two and a half miles will be his thing now,” said the Dorset handler.

“It was a nice run. The handicapper was sensible and put on about 2 pounds on him. We enter him in the Grand Annual and the two and a half mile race (the Craft Irish Whiskey Co. Plate Handicap Chase, over two miles and five stadia).

“If the ground gets soft he might stick with two (for the Grand Annual) but two and a half is ideal for him.”

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