Joe Tizzard: “He’s in the big leagues now but he reminds me of Native River.”
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We get the latest from the Tizzard stables ahead of a busy weekend
Saturday – Aintree
2.10 Vision Des Flos
It’s a much busier weekend for us now the rain has finally come, although we could still do with a drop more!
Vison Des Flos is a brilliant jumper normally, he was just a bit keen last time, pecked on landing and lost Tom Scudamore, so we’ve decided to go back over hurdles.
He’s only five-years-old, and we’ve just got one eye on seeing if he can develop into a Champion Hurdle horse, this is over 2 ½ miles but it still ticks a lot of boxes for him, he’s in great form at home so we’ll see how he gets on.
We do think a lot of him, he finished second in Grade Ones at Aintree and Punchestown, which is top notch form, and we think he’s improved physically over the summer. If after a couple of runs we don’t think he’s Champion Hurdle form, we can always go back chasing with him.
Wincanton
Leg Lock Luke is Leg Lock Luke…he does win his races, we just never know when!
He should enjoy this better ground, and having a young jockey on board might help as well. He’s definitely capable of running a big race here, we just don’t know which Leg Lock Luke will turn up.
We run a couple in the Badger Ales, Kings Lad and On Demand. Kings Lad has had a cracking summer, winning three times, and he ran a solid enough race at Ascot last weekend.
He does need this quicker ground, which he may not get much more of at this time of year, which is why we’re getting him out again, and he can then have a break over the winter.
On Demand has been a model of consistency over fences, and is getting better and better. She also looks as if she needs three miles plus, she handles this ground, so it’s right to let her have a crack at a big pot.
It will be her first time in this sort of company, but if she gets into a rhythm, she has got a nice racing weight, and we’ll find out how good she is.
Sunday – Sandown
We run Kings Walk in the conditional jockeys’ race. He’s ready for a run, he’s quite lightly raced as we’ve had a few little problems with him over the last couple of seasons, and we’ll probably go chasing again with him.
On his day he’s definitely got an engine, he’s going well at home, and this looks the perfect starting point to get a run into him.
Molineaux was ultra consistent over hurdles last season, winning a couple.
He’s a lovely athletic looking horse who has schooled really well at home, and again this race ticks a lot of boxes as an ideal starting point for him, although it’s a competitive race, as we’ve all been waiting to run them in this type of race.
Eldorado Allen was a smart recruit from France who joined us at the beginning of the summer.
He’s done everything we asked of him since we got him in, his French form was of a decent standard, and we’re very much looking forward to seeing him in action, we’re expecting a bold show from him as we think he’s one of our smarter novice hurdlers.
It’s all about the Ladbrokes Trophy for Elegant Escape, so this is very much his prep for Newbury. We looked at running him last weekend but the ground wasn’t quite right for him, but now the rain has come for him.
There are just the four runners, and all four probably have one eye on Newbury, but they’re a strong looking four, so as a prep run you might not be too disappointed to get beaten.
Sandown should suit him, he can get into a nice rhythm and stay on up the hill.
He was very consistent at a good level last season, but he looks the type to improve over the summer, he’s quite a laid back sort, and both mentally and physically he should have come on a fair bit.
He will need to have done though, as he’s playing in the big leagues now, but we are very excited about him, he is very similar to Native River going into this second season as a chaser.
We run Theatre Guide and Flaming Charmer in the Veterans’ Chase. Theatre Guide has been a grand old boy for us, he needed the run at Chepstow last time, but these type of races suit him, and he should come on a lot for the prep run.
Flaming Charmer tends to run well fresh and then his form can tail off a bit, so this should be the time to catch him.
There’s really not too much between them, like Theatre Guide he’s been a good old servant for us, and these Veterans’ Chases always get a great turnout.
Ffos Las
We’re very excited about running Kilbricken Storm over fences for the first time. We’ve been waiting for this ground, his schooling has been very good, and he’s the class horse in the race.
He was quite a light framed horse last year, but he’s summered so well he’s really filled his frame.
From the moment we put a fence in front of him he jumped so accurately, so although we enjoyed having the conversations over the summer about the route we’d go with him, he’s always looked like a chaser to us.
We have two in the three mile handicap hurdle, Buckhorn Timothy and Quiz Master.
Both are having their seasonal debuts, and in an ideal world they wouldn’t run against each other, but both are ready to go and it’s the right race for both of them.
Quiz Master will be going chasing before too long, and Buckhorn Timothy goes well fresh. There wouldn’t be too much between them, and now the ground has come, we have to get going with them.
Allchilledout is what he is, but he schooled this week as well as I’ve seen him school.
He has had problems with his shins in the past, and he’s a 0-115 horse, that’s his level.
But he’ll love this trip and ground, he runs a few bad races, gets dropped a few pounds and is then able to win one, so he gives his syndicate a lot of fun.
Queen Of The Wind is our final runner of the weekend. She was travelling well at Southwell last time, but then made a mistake and that was game over.
However I think she’s on a very workable mark, and I think she has a very good chance of making amends here.
Joe
