Medermit claims Haldon Gold Medermit won the Betfred Haldon Gold Cup Chase at Exeter as Captain Chris unseated at the last. Alan King's grey was all out to win the valuable handicap over an extended two miles and a furlong on his first start of the season. The seven year old was made favourite for the Arkle last season only to disappoint as the honours went to Captain Chris at Prestbury Park. Philip Hobbs' runner was favourite to land this contest despite conceding 6lbs to his old rival and may well have landed the odds but for an horrendous blunder at the last which caused Richard Johnson to unseat several yards after the fence. Medermit had taken up the running with four to jump and was joined by Cornas at the next with Oiseau De Nuit making a line of three at the second last in a terrific contest. However, it was Robert Thornton's mount who proved the strongest, prevailing by a length and a quarter from Cornas. Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh teamed up with Ghizao who was well supported but the seven year old was in trouble from a long way out and failed to land a blow. King told At The Races: "Mine have tended to want a run a little bit, but we've got plenty of work into this lad in the last week to 10 days. "It looked a logical starting point. But I've no idea where I'm going to go with him now. "We'll enjoy today first and go home and think about it. "I think Captain Chris might have won, I've only seen it once, but it's bad luck on them. "I'm sure he wants further. He's in the Paddy Power, but I think that's going to come too quick. "I only popped him in here because we were worried that if the rain hadn't arrived we couldn't have run today. "The Peterborough Chase would be a logical step but whether there would be something in between I don't know. "I think I got it wrong last year dropping him back to two miles. Choc (Thornton) said it took him a few fences to find his stride today. "I think two and a quarter miles at Exeter, first race (of the season) was the right place, win or lose. We'll definitely go two and a half mile plus from now on." Cornas' trainer Nick Williams said: "This is the second time he's come second in this race (second to Planet Of Sound in 2009) and he's run a great race. "He was ready to run by early October and there wasn't anything for him here so we ran him in France. "I thought he would run his race but that one of the top three might be an improver and probably do him." Sky Bet cut the winner to 16-1 from 25s for the Champion Chase and Captain Chris to 12/1 from 14/1 for the Ryanair Chase. However, Victor Chandler spokesperson Charlie McCann said: "A high-class renewal of the Haldon Gold cup but we are convinced we didn't see a Champion Chaser in the line up. "Winner Medermit is 12/1 for the Ryanair Chase and Captain Chris was left unchanged for the King George at 8/1. "Despite winning an Arkle earlier in the year the latter jumped out to his right on occasions and gave every impression that the minimum trip is now on the sharp side for him; the King George looks his race."
