Joe Tizzard: “We’re hoping for a big run from Sartorial Elegance.”
Last Weekend at Chepstow
Last weekend went really well. It was interesting that the two horses of ours that won had already had a run – Drinks Interval and Kings Lads.
Padleyourowncanoe ran the best of the horses having their first start of the season. Reserve Tank ran an exciting first run for a four year old.
Shanahans Turn ran well. But even now, a week on, our horses at home seem that little bit more forward, and we’re really looking forward to running them.
Saturday – Ffos Las
We are really looking forward to running him. He was entered up to go to Chepstow last weekend but the ground was just too quick.
The ground at Ffos Las looks ideal and the two mile four furlong trip will be perfect for him. It’s a nice starting point for him.
Sizing Granite has always shown his best form in the spring. He is well handicapped over hurdles compared to fences but at this time of year you just don’t know which horse is going to turn up.
He wants decent ground which he’ll get at Ffos Las. The Welsh Champion Hurdle is a decent race and you don’t get the very best hurdlers in it.
Some people say that horses that run well in the spring like having the sun on their backs but I’m not sure that’s the real reason.
When we first got our hands on Sizing Granite he was almost embarrassing how poorly he ran until March, but then he blossomed in his coat and he clicked and he ran well.
There isn’t a definite reason for why some horses run better in the spring, but it may just be that they run badly on softer ground and get beaten and handicap themselves, which they take advantage of when they get the better ground in the spring.
He was a horse that was going places and then he had a horrible experience when he unseated his rider and then fell and injured himself. He hasn’t really let himself down since then.
He has dropped to a very workable mark and he’s in the form of his life at home so we are hopeful of a big run from him. He was a 120 horse at one time so he looks well handicapped.
He’s a nice little horse that has done some decent pieces of work. He was in all last year and then we ran out of time with him.
He’s never left the yard so it will be a good experience for him, but he’s had the benefit of being in training all last year so he could be more forward then some of the others in this race.
He has done some pieces of work that have been quite eye-catching but I’m sure he’ll need the experience.
Sunday – Kempton
He has schooled lovely this week and is ready to run. Harry Cobden has been booked to ride.
He’s been down a few times to jump him, and is in great form having five winners last weekend. He’s riding very well.
The second half of last season didn’t quite work for him – I don’t know if it was because he was still growing or it was something else – but as a result he’s dropped down the handicap.
He was a solid 124 horse after his first win, and now he’s dropped down to 116. So hopefully he’s got a few pounds in hand and we can have a bit of fun with him.
It’s his first run of the season and he’s fresh and well. I don’t think he’ll mind some decent ground and there’s no reason why Kempton won’t suit him. It should be a perfect start.
He’s had the benefit of a run. We ran him a few weeks ago and he got a bit tired.
Now he has that run under his belt he should go well. It’s the right race for him, there’s no two ways about it.
Joe
