Joe Tizzard Sunday runners blog: 'He's really turned a corner'

Coral presents its latest Joe Tizzard blog, with the leading trainer previewing his runners on Sunday at Fontwell and Cheltenham.

I’m really looking forward to running Diamond Days, he’s been schooling nicely at home, and he’ll be a lot sharper for his bumper run.  Fitness wise, that bumper run really did bring him on, we can see the physical difference in him.

Hurdling was always going to be his thing, so we haven’t wasted any time getting him started. He’ll learn plenty around Fontwell, they’re always on the turn so that should help Brendan settle him and he can hopefully finish off his race well.

West Orchard has really turned a corner this season, winning his two starts. He won this time last year but didn’t progress as we’d hoped, and we maybe began to question his attitude, but this year he’s kicked on again.

He won here ten days ago, but he came out of that so well we’re going again. The handicapper is having his say, he’s up eight pounds for the last win and 13 for the two wins, but he’s been winning well and I hope there’s more to come.

This has been the early season target for this fellow, and he had a nice prep at Plumpton earlier this month to finish second. He has got to prove he gets this marathon trip, but his style of running suggests he should, and he’s won around here over hurdles so the track should suit.

It’s a competitive little race, but this is his grade, and if he comes on for the last run, there’s no reason he can’t get involved in the places at least.

She’s been a really solid mare for us, always runs a consistent race, and goes so well for Fred [Gingell]. She seems to get her head in front a couple of times each season, and runs in decent races, as this is. If things goes right for her she’ll be competitive again, but the company she runs in means things are never easy.

This mare missed a race a Taunton in the week as the ground was quick enough for her there, so hopefully we’ll be OK here. Her second place two runs ago was strong enough form, and she travelled well at Ludlow last time, she just didn’t get home. She’s back in trip here, I think the handicapper has ben fair, and so she should be competitive here.

Nordic Storm did disappoint me at the back end of last season, once he was handicapped I did think he was capable of going on to win, but instead he ran two stinkers! He’s come back in this season and looks great, it won’t be long before he jumps a fence but it would nice to win a race over hurdles and this is the sort of race he could win.

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