Joe Tizzard: “Sizing Tennessee is a big player in the National Hunt Chase”

We are all really excited about the week ahead. It’s the biggest race meeting of the year, and our horses are in really good form going into it, so we can’t wait to get started.

Let’s hope we can get a bit of luck and hopefully we’ll get a winner or two.

Supreme Novices Hurdle – Slate House, Lostintranslation, Shoal Bay

Slate House on the ratings is our leading contender. He certainly has the best form in the book. There are excuses for his last couple of starts.

When he came back from Ascot he was wrong. He travelled like the winner everywhere at Cheltenham last time and he just didn’t get two miles and five furlongs.

So I think on his autumn form with Summerville Boy he definitely has an each way chance.

I don’t think this ground is a problem for him. He handled it last time and he looked the winner two out. He didn’t get home that day. In an ideal world he wants better ground but I’m not desperately concerned.

Lostintranslation was all wrong after Haydock last time so you can forget about that run. Robbie Power thought a lot of him in the autumn.

He’s looking to bounce back but he’s a lovely horse and will make a cracking chaser in the autumn. He deserves his place in the field.

Shoal Bay’s owner was quite keen to run. On his form last time he has a little bit to find but he has run well around Cheltenham and he won’t mind the ground. He has a bit to find on official ratings but he’s not that far out of it.

Ultima Handicap Chase – Sizing Codelco

Sizing Codelco is handicapped on what he achieved at Punchestown and Aintree last year. He is one that would probably want better ground.

But we were keen to get a run in him after his wind op and he has got bits and pieces of form on soft ground.

National Hunt Chase – Sizing Tennessee

Sizing Tennessee runs for us. The question mark is whether he can get this trip in this ground. He has looked a thorough stayer on decent ground at three miles but this is another step up again.

He has a bit of class and he has some strong form at Cheltenham. We have the top Irish boy on board him, and if he gets the trip then he’s a big player. We are going into the unknown but he might well thrive on it.

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