Joe Tizzard Saturday runners blog: 'We wouldn't swap either of our pair'

Coral presents its latest Joe Tizzard blog, with the leading trainer previewing his runners on Saturday at Sandown and Wincanton.

Triple Trade had an excellent season last year, he did his winning over two miles but we’re stepping him up in trip here, which we think will suit him at this stage of his career. His wins did mean the handicapper probably got to grips with him, and he was finding life hard in those good two miles handicaps.

He’s run well without winning in good races at Ascot and Cheltenham this season, and that does mean his mark has come down, so on soft ground he won’t mind, we’re looking forward to seeing how he does over this 2 ½ miles trip.

Things haven’t gone this fellow’s way so far this season, we’ve tried to teach him to settle as he can be a bit keen, and then last time we thought we’d try something different and let him bowl along in front, which he seemed to be enjoying, but unfortunately unseated his rider, so we don’t know how that would have panned out.

He does seem to be really thriving at home now, and over this two miles trip I would think we’ll let him be prominent again, and if Harry [Cobden] can get him into a nice rhythm, we’d hope he can be competitive at this level.

We run two in the Veterans’ qualifier. Le Ligerien is in great form, and comes here off the back of a Lingfield win, so although that has seen him hit with a seven pounds rise in the weights, the trip and track should suit and he should be in the mix.

The Widdow Maker picked up an injury on his last run, so has been off for nearly 700 days. We have taken him away for a racecourse gallop, but he’s fully entitled to come on for this reappearance, and it’s just good to see him back on the track.

This is a big race for us, as we have two strong chances. Copperhead is in the form of his life, and has won three and finished second twice on his last five runs, and was one place ahead of Eldorado Allen at Cheltenham last time. That was over 2 ½ miles, but he’s won over three miles, and gets plenty of weight from Eldorado Allen again. Very soft ground would be a slight concern, but he’s in great from at home, and should go very close.

Eldorado Allen will definitely enjoy the step back up in trip, he’s run well on his two starts this season, although life is never easy off his mark. Brendan [Powell] loves him, and there’s not much between our pair either on their homework or their racing. We certainly wouldn’t swap either of them.

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