Donjuan Triumphant edges photo finish to win rescheduled 32Red Gold Cup at Haydock.

Under the guidance of jockey PJ McDonald, the Andrew Balding-trained horse overhauled Stake Acclaim in second with Ice Age in third.

The race was due to take place last Saturday at Ayr but was called off as a section of the course was waterlogged, adding to the cancellation of the previous two days racing of the Festival, much to the understandable disappointment of racegoers in Scotland.

However, Haydock came to the rescue and a week later the Gold Cup was slotted in as part of a nine race bumper card on Merseyside.
Tbe importance of the rescheduling was underlined by British Horseracing Authority chief operating officer, Richard Wayman, who said “We are delighted that the Ayr Gold Cup – which is such an important betting race – has been saved”.

The only difference as far as the replacement race was concerned was the width of the track, for where Ayr could accommodate 25 runners, a maximum field of 17 runners went to the starting post at Haydock.

With that reduced field and going described as heavy, the race was nevertheless a competitive encounter with pre-race hopes for Donjuan Triumphant being high having bounced back to winning form also at Haydock a little over three weeks ago.

However it was Stake Acclaim, who like Donjuan Triumphant was in the line-up at Ayr last week, who looked set to take the honours after kicking for home well, but with McDonald pulling the strings Balding’s charge eventually wore him down and the pair were seemingly inseparable as they flashed by the post.

After a brief wait, the judge confirmed Donjuan Triumphant had got up by a short-head, with Ice Age a further three-quarters of a length back for third and Mr Lupton in fourth.