Joe Tizzard New Year's Day runners blog: 'I hope he will take plenty of beating'

Coral presents its latest Joe Tizzard blog, with the leading trainer previewing his four runners on New Year's Day at Exeter.

Moonlight Artist has won over hurdles at the track, so we know he likes it here. Last time out he was travelling OK, but then made a couple of mistakes, and on pretty testing ground, Brendan [Powell] made the right decision to pull him up. Fred [Gingell] has won on him before, and based on his homework, I think he will take to these bigger fences, so if they can get into a rhythm early on, he should have an each way chance.

I think he’s my best chance of the day. He won nicely at Newton Abbot two runs ago, that was on heavy ground, and then they probably went plenty quickly enough for him at Chepstow on his next run, but he still ran well to finish third. A stiff two miles around here should really suit him, and I hope he will take a lot of beating.

This is a big son of the sire Jack Hobbs who my uncle bred. He’ll be five tomorrow, but he’s a backward sort, a big baby still, so this season will be all about teaching him to settle, to race, and then he’s one to look forward to next season, when we’ll start him off in handicaps.

This is a nice horse for the future, and it was pleasing to see the form of his Newton Abbot bumper fourth work out OK so far. I’m not sure he’s one to win a bumper with, but we’ll get three runs into him, and could then turn him out early with a plan to bring him back in novice hurdles nice and early next season.  

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