Joe Tizzard: This mare looks our best chance of a weekend winner
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Trainer and Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard discusses the prospects of his four runners at Wincanton and Sandown this weekend.
Saturday
We’ve three runners at what’s always a big day at our local track, beginning with this novice hurdler. He was very keen in his last race, actually considering how free he ran that day, he saw out the race quite well, which tells me there is an engine there, if we can just teach him to settle. He’ll learn plenty more running here, and he does seem to be settling better at home, so once we’ve got him handicapped, hopefully he can be competitive.
One of our stable stars, he always goes well fresh, and this has always been the plan as his starting point, as I think he’ll enjoy the track here. He was unlucky to fall early in the Grand National, and we’re keen to have another spin over the big fences, so if this goes well, we’d aim him at the Becher Chase next month. If he runs to his best form here, I’d be hopeful he won’t be far away, and any more rain wouldn’t inconvenience him.
She had a brilliant season last time, winning the big Mares’ final at Newbury, and then the ground was too quick for her at Cheltenham, so I’m happy to put a line through that run. She’s improved over the summer, and we’ll keep her over hurdles this season, as I think she can be one our stable stars, she certainly looks to be our best chance of a winner this weekend, and she’s another who will relish soft ground.
Sunday
Elegant Escape has been fantastic for the yard, but he did seem to fall out of love with the game a bit last season, so we won’t keep pushing him if he tells us he’s had enough. That said, he’s been in great form at home, and he’s run well at Sandown in the past, so off a very low weight here, if he recaptures his old spark for Harry [Cobden], he could be interesting.
Joe
