Joe Tizzard “I’m expecting a big run from” Battle of Ideas

12.35 Chepstow – Sparky’s Spirit and Unsafe Conduct

This is Unsafe Conduct’s third run over hurdles, after which he should get a handicap mark. He had sore shins after his last start but they’ve been sorted. Whether he wants this heavy ground I’m not convinced but there’s a lack of options so we need to run him.

Sparky’s Spirit needs to get a handicap mark before he’ll be competitive. Once he gets that mark then he can run in the right grade and we’ll go from there.

1.05 Chepstow – Quite By Chance

Quite By Chance is ultra-consistent. He was just handicapped out of a race at Ascot last weekend that we were hoping to run him in. He has run very well around Chepstow before and there aren’t many options for him at this time of year, so this looks ideal for him. He should have a decent chance in this.

1.35 Chepstow – Battle of Ideas

Battle Of Ideas is in really good form. He’s come out of his last race well and I think the handicapper has been fair to him giving him a mark of 127. The only thing is, he’s got to get nearly three miles around Chepstow in heavy ground which is an unknown. Everything that we’ve seen suggests that he’ll stay, and he should be able to travel well into the race, and I’m expecting a big run from him.

It will be good if it does rain overnight as that will help the horses travel through the ground, as if it dries out it gets even tackier and makes it a real job for the horses to get round and finish. When it’s wet they can slop their way through it.

After his first run at Fontwell it hit him for six, but he’s filling out now, and growing all the time, and he has thrived after his last run. I’m expecting him to run really well.

2.05 Chepstow – Buckthorn Timothy

Buckthorn Timothy runs in the Coral Welsh National for us. It’s not quite like taking Native River for the race but we’ve protected his mark by running him in a couple of hurdles this year which he won. He gallops and he stays, and he’s run well at Chepstow before. I don’t think there will be too may finishers in this race on this ground, and the way Buckthorn Timothy runs, he saves a bit for himself, so hopefully he can be there at the end. It’s an ultra-competitive race though and you need an out and out slogger, so whether our horse is that, and whether he’s quite classy enough I’m not sure?

He’s not a Native River, and some classy horses have won the Welsh Grand National in the past, but he’s at the right end of the weights, which is particular helpful given how testing it’s going to be. He deserves his place in the race.

3.40 Kempton – Mister Malarkey

Mister Malarkey is probably one of our best chances of a winner today. The handicapper has given him a sensible mark, he’s won over course and distance, and he’s a little horse that’s been progressing nicely this season. I think he has a big chance.

Joe