Joe Tizzard: “Elegant Escape deserves to run a big race”
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Racing ambassador discusses his latest rides
They have given him a handicap mark of 120 but he could not qualify for the handicap race there as he has had just the two runs so he needs to have another spin. He likes the track and 2m3f is just about ok on this ground. It looks to be a competitive maiden hurdle and there might be one or two better than him in there. He has been ultra-consistent though and we have been really pleased with him since he came to us.
He’s 12 years old now but back home he is as good as ever. We are weary that he is handicapped on the back of a couple of wins last year and he is getting no younger, however, he will enjoy it around here and he is a cracking horse and we are looking to running him.
I have schooled him a couple of times and he has felt really good. After the Ladbroke Trophy, we felt this is the type of trip he wants. Soft ground around Chepstow should be ideal for him. He deserves to run a big race and we think he will. This is one of the big highlights on the racing calendar around Christmas. We won this race with Native River a couple of years ago and it was a big day for us. I was convinced he would win it as he was eight pounds well in following his win in the Hennessy. Elegant Escape is also still progressive and hopefully he can get into a nice rhythm early on and then he will have a serious chance. Tom O’Brien takes the ride as Harry Cobden is at Kempton. Tom has won three times on him so he knows the horse inside out and he has won a Welsh Grand National before so the horse is in good hands.
He had a heavy fall at Cheltenham last time where we threw him in at the deep end. This race is exactly what he is all about as it should not be the quickest. Hopefully he is well handicapped on the back of his hurdle form and will have a chance here.
Joe
