EXETER 13:55

All 6 ran. Fences: 12. Race Distance Adjustment: +5 yds

Time: 4m 15.9s Closing Sectional: (2.2f): 35.9s (89.5%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 97.6%

A couple of last season's better British shorter-distance novices fought out this year's Haldon Gold Cup, though the runner-up - along with a stablemate in fourth who'd won the race the year before - gave the impression the outing would bring him on, as so often tends to be the case with a race normally seen as a seasonal starting point rather than a prime target in itself, the finish a slow one on ground more testing than advertised.

ELDORADO ALLEN (FR) became his yard's second high-calibre novice of last season to make a winning return in dogged fashion in a matter of days, like Fiddlerontheroof at Carlisle raising his game first time back, greater stamina - and probably fitness as well - under the conditions enabling him to wear down a superior prospect; held up, he made progress on the home turn, pressed the leader 2 out and, having been crossed by that rival on landing at the last, rallied well to lead near the finish as the runner-up gave way; his potential to improve further lies primarily with returning to 2½m.

HITMAN (FR) remains one to keep on the right side for all he couldn't see things through 7 months after suffering a similar fate over 2½m at Aintree, any niggle he might be a weakish finisher regardless of trip (undergone breathing operation since spring) outweighed by his many qualities, chiefly his jumping and pace, old rival Eldorado Allen probably fitter and almost certainly a stronger stayer in reversing form from their 2 clashes as novices; either way, he went like the best horse at the weights, carting himself to the front entering the straight but never able to get more than 3 or so lengths clear, leaving him vulnerable late as he tied up on the flat, collared close home; everything about him suggests he'll always be best allowed his head around 2m, some good races at the trip still well within his grasp this season, be it kept to handicaps (clearly plenty in hand of mark) or, as with stablemate Greaneteen in 2020/21, whilst climbing the open graded ranks later on.

ZANZA (IRE) ran as well as could be expected - and possibly better - from 4 lb out of the handicap after 7 months off, though he didn't shape as though he was short of fitness; settled in touch, pecked on landing fourth, shaken up home turn, effort 4 out, stayed on.

GREANETEEN (FR) proved himself the top-class chaser he'd long promised to be last spring and didn't seem half as wound up as when starting the campaign with a win (from same BHA mark as stablemate Hitman) in this race, doing more than enough to suggest he retains all his ability and enthusiasm; patiently ridden, typically travelled strongly, rapid headway fifth, every chance when shaken up entering straight, weakening when awkward 3 out; he'll be far fitter if taking his chance in the Tingle Creek, untested at that level when a fine second to Politologue in the 2020 edition.

KING D'ARGENT (FR) is probably best forgiven this rare tame effort, coming as it did on more testing ground on a more demanding course, all from 3 lb out of the weights just a few weeks after a hard reappearance (later said to have been struck into, too); chased leader, upsides fifth, jumped on next, headed entering straight, found little.

MOONLIGHTER had pushed Greaneteen close in this last year but shaped as if amiss this time around from 2 lb out of the handicap after 8 months off, his trademark left-handed jumping on full show (joined when going that way fourth and lost place when doing so even more markedly at the next) before he capitulated in the back straight.