Taking the Reins: Episode 4 – Another Chance
The stakes are high in part four of Taking the Reins as the Tizzard team navigates the challenging world of racehorse training.
Coral’s exciting new documentary series examines how rookie trainer Joe deals with the risks and injuries that come with such a demanding job.
“To get these horses to the racetrack, they have to be trained right to the limits to be fit enough to be competitive,” declares Joe.
“When they’re running at the top level, they’re running against the best and get put under a lot of pressure.”
Equine vet Clive Hamblin gives viewers an informative insight into some of the most common issues which can affect racehorses, especially jumpers.
Tensions build as the Cheltenham Festival approaches and the team put final preparations in place for the biggest National Hunt racing event of the year.
Joe highlights how placing horses in the right races is a crucial factor, although sometimes just taking a chance can pay rich dividends as fortune favours the brave!
Our favourite Episode 4 quotes
Vet Clive Hamblin: “Tendon injuries are most certainly the commonest National Hunt horse injury. Tendon fibres are continually breaking and nature repairs them.”
Amanda Hibbs: “The media always talk about how it’s been so many days since the yard had a winner, I guess the pressure then just starts building. If you have a bit of a flat spot, it’s very hard to put your finger on what’s going on, but no yard is exempt from it.”
Assistant trainer Chris Wald: “We’re just trying to get the best out of each horse…not every owner is lucky enough to have a horse good enough to go to Cheltenham, but it’s just as important we focus on their horses and try to get the best results for them as well.”
Colin laughs at the retired Native River getting excited in a parade: “We gave him enough hard races but he still wants to go and do it again.”
Joe: “Everybody’s got the facilities nowadays and they can get horses fit, but trying to map out their race planning is one of the biggest parts.”
Joe: “We had a quiet spell but then the horses come good and you have a good winner; it just gives confidence to everybody and is a nice tonic for everybody.”
All six episodes of Taking the Reins have been released on the Coral Racing Club YouTube channel, making it easily accessible and free-to-view.
Coral PR Director and Executive Producer Simon Clare said: “Coral is a horse racing brand through and through and our main aim is to get our customers closer to the action to enhance their passion for the sport.
“Given the huge popularity of fly-on-the-wall sports documentaries, we decided to take the plunge, and with our partners at Equine Productions, embarked on a major project charting the progress of Joe Tizzard’s first season as a racehorse trainer.
“Over a six-month period, focusing on a wide range of compelling stories featuring his racehorses, his owners, his family and his hard-working team, around some of the biggest race meetings in the calendar.
“We hope viewers will find this an entertaining and exciting watch and would like to thank Joe and everyone who participated in the series for their willingness to open their lives and emotions to the cameras.
“The Equine Productions team have done an amazing job but we couldn’t have produced the series without the support of many individuals and bodies within the racing industry to which we are indebted.”
Other episodes
Episode 1 – Chasing Gold
Episode 2 – Second Best
Episode 3 – Frozen Sky
Episode 5 – Cheltenham
Episode 6 – The Grand National
