Joe Tizzard: “War Lord must have a massive chance”
Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard gives the lowdown on the team’s runners on day one of the Grand National meeting
Aintree 1.45 – War Lord & The Widdow Maker
We passed the £1million mark in prize money for the season this week, which was a lovely milestone for the yard to reach. It’s something we always aim for, and we’ve done it previously, but as one of maybe just half a dozen yards to do so, whereas this year we were the 14th yard to do it, which highlights the strength in depth of the current UK training scene.
Hopefully we can add to the prize money total this week. We have a good team of runners at Aintree on Thursday and Saturday, although as expected neither of our pair have got into the Topham on Friday.
We’re really happy with how the runners have come out of Cheltenham, last season they just didn’t train on from Cheltenham to Aintree, but this time around those that ran at the Festival last month seem in great form.
We start with two in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase. War Lord has had a cracking season, running consistently well throughout, and he ran a lovely race in the Arkle.
He would have been even closer if the rain had come a day earlier, he just got out paced at a crucial time, but then stayed on really well to finish fourth.
The step up in trip here was always the plan, he was a two-and-a-half mile hurdler last season and I’m sure this will suit him. For a Grade 1 it doesn’t look the strongest, and we’d have to be hopeful he has a massive chance, he shouldn’t be too far away.
We are throwing The Widdow Maker in at the deep end a little bit here, but he’s run twice over fences and won and finished second, and as I say, this isn’t the strongest race for the level. So, although he’s got a bit to find, he could well pick up some decent prize money.
Eldorado Allen is another who’s had a really good, consistent season. His best performance was arguably over three miles in Newbury’s Denman Chase, when he had a couple of these behind him [Royale Pagaille and Clan Des Obeaux].
He ran a blinder in the Ryanair, and seems to have come out of that really well, he’ll have his ideal conditions here, and while Protektorat looks the one to beat, we’re really looking forward to running him.
We did have Elixir De Nutz in the novice race as well, but we think the fast-run two miles he’ll get here will suit him well.
He hated the wet ground he got at Cheltenham last time, but the time before he got his ground at Kempton, as he will here, and he loves those conditions.
This is an ultra-competitive race, but on his best form he could well pick up some prize money.
Aintree 5.15 – Ilovethenightlife
Ilovethenightlife is a beautiful filly, who was a little bit unlucky to finish fourth at Ascot on her debut. She looked the winner turning for home but inexperience showed and she just got nabbed by a couple close home.
We’re putting her in the deep end here, but we think she’s improved for that Ascot run. We like her a lot, and if she could run in the first half a dozen here we’d be delighted.
Joe
View the latest horse racing odds
