'That showed true courage'

Stage Star battles back from a juddering error at the last to win the Paddy Power Gold Cup, while Jonbon makes a spring-heeled return

- JENNIFER DONALD

November Meeting, Cheltenham Racecourse, Glos

STAGE STAR came so very close to exiting stage right with a mistake at the last fence when holding a commanding lead in the competitive £157,392 Paddy Power Gold Cup.

However, after an equally heart-stopping balancing act from Harry Cobden, the jockey picked up the pieces and galvanised the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old up the Cheltenham hill. The tenacious gelding refused to relinquish his lead, giving his 3,000-strong Owners Group syndicate more to cheer about.

"To go from 30mph to walking out the back of it and nearly falling, then to get going again, just shows the true courage this horse really has," said Cobden, who has partnered the son of Fame And Glory to eight of his nine successes, three of which have come at Cheltenham, including a Grade One at the Festival.