Joe Tizzard: “Grand Vision is one of our best chances of the week”
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1.45 Aintree – Finian’s Oscar
He ran well enough at Cheltenham. He came there three out and we got very excited, and yet no sooner than he looked threatening his run stopped. So that was disappointing. I wouldn’t have minded better ground for him here, but he schooled really nicely yesterday morning and he does look a million dollars.
He’s a very good horse who is just having one of those years, a kind of transformation year. He did it all on raw ability last year and this year it hasn’t quite happened for him but he’s slowly becoming a man. He’s a very talented horse and at some stage it’s going to all click again. He certainly shouldn’t be written off.
2.20 Aintree – Padleyourowncanoe
We are throwing him in the deep end here. We had thought about going for a handicap but we’ve decided to pitch him in here. He’s a four year old that absolutely loves this ground, where plenty of that age group don’t handle it. He also gets two and a half miles well so we’ll ride him really positively. It’s his last chance to run in a juvenile so we thought why not run him in a Grade 1. He’s not that far off, and if he gets beat then so what.
The owners have had a lovely season with him. They had a great day out when they finished fourth at Cheltenham and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if he got them in the Winner’s Enclosure again today. They are over the moon to have a horse that’s competing in these races when twelve months ago he was rated in the mid-50s on the Flat.
2.50 Aintree – Sizing Codelco
We thought the race might cut up a bit more than it did, and he’s also a good ground horse. However he’s a gross horse that we just cannot get fit at home and if anything else this race will just put him right for the Coral Scottish Grand National next week when hopefully the ground will be a bit better. That said we’ve never been afraid of running our horses in big races, and there are horses in this race that had tough races at Cheltenham and might not have recovered so you never know. You only need a couple to run below par and you are into decent prize money if you win 4th or 5th.
He won well at Aintree last year and then went and won at Punchestown two weeks later despite a hike in the weights. He’s a very capable horse on his day, he looked like a spring horse last season, and he certainly seems to be coming right at home.
4.05 Aintree – Grand Vision
Jamie Codd rides Grand Vision which is handy as he’s one of the best, if not the best amateur around at the moment. We are excited about having him on board. Barry O’Neill would have ridden again but he has riding commitments, and Jamie phoned up for the ride which is a big vote of confidence in our horse’s chance.
Grand Vision ran a really solid race at Cheltenham in the Foxhunter, and perhaps didn’t quite get the 3 miles 2 furlong trip that day. This trip of 2 miles 5 furlongs over these fences could be ideal. He has never jumped these fences but (touch wood) he is a lovely jumper and he could get into a really nice rhythm. Although he’s twelve years old he is in the form of his life. He could run a huge race. Grand Vision is one of our best chances of the week.
4.40 Aintree – Sizing Platinum
He is a very good horse on his day but he is definitely a good ground horse. However given his handicap mark he has to run in these races. On a flat track he might just get away with it round here as he is a well handicapped horse and in good form. I’m hoping it might just be Good to Soft, Soft in places, because then it won’t be too bad for him.
He’s got a chance on his best form. He was a good second to Fox Norton and he won a competitive race at Newton Abbot in the summer and he has his day every year. He’s entered at Punchestown as well. You gain nothing by leaving these horses in their stable and he’s fit and well and ready to run. It’s our style really that we’re never afraid to run, as when these horses get older they surprise you and can handle different conditions so you shouldn’t just pigeon hole them. You have to run them to win and if they don’t then the handicap gives them a bit of a chance so it’s a win-win situation.
Joe
