Joe Tizzard is hoping to continue his family’s love affair with the BetMGM Haldon Gold Cup after confirming JPR One will line up for the Exeter showpiece on November 8.

Over two miles and one distance, the Grade Two competition was a race close to the hearts of the Tizzard family; Joe rode Lake Kariba (1998), Flagship Uberalles (1999) and Cue Card (2012) to victory as a jockey.

The last of those three victories was particularly poignant while riding Cue Card for his father Colin, whose license he inherited for the 2022-23 season and who also saddles 2021 winner Eldorado Allen.

Joe Tizzard celebrated his first victory as a trainer at last year’s renewal after Elixir De Nutz achieved a three-and-a-half length success at the hands of his nephew Freddie Gingell.

The Venn Farm handler is aiming to defend his crown with JPR One, who took Grade Two Lightning Novices’ Chase honors on his penultimate start at Lingfield in January.

The seven-year-old won on his only start at the west country circuit, where he beat 2024 Grand National winner I Am Maximus on his 2021 debut and Tizzard believes Exeter is the perfect venue for him to re-emerge.

“We try to plan for the Haldon Gold Cup every year if we have something good enough,” Tizzard said.

“I have been lucky enough to win this award three times as a jockey, twice for Paul (Nicholls) and once for my dad on Cue Card. My dad also won with Eldorado Allen and for me it was very special to win with Freddie last year.

“Our plan this year is to take JPR One there for his first run of the season. He won his first race at Exeter beating I Am Maximus and has always been a fantastic, athletic horse.

“He won the Grade Two for us last season and probably should have won two; He was unlucky at Cheltenham (the last time he lost his seat). His rating is 149. I could have gone to Cheltenham for the two-mile run last weekend, but from the middle of last season I said I wanted to start with him at Exeter.

“If JPR One is to take the next step it needs to enter a big race in the Haldon Gold Cup and then we can look at Tingle Creek and go down that route.

“He’s knocking on the door, but he still has to do it to take the next step. If he is a graded horse he should put on a brave showing of 149 in the Haldon Gold Cup.”