Tenn out of ten for Sizing
BOTH Sizing Tennessee and Ainchea ran crackers for me in Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, giving hope of bigger things to come.
Sizing Tennessee turned ten on Monday and, dropping back in trip, went down bravely, giving 3lb., to the classy Yanworth.
Now that he’s got his jumping together, he’s among the best staying novices around.
Colin (Tizzard) is doing a good job with him and, because he’s best kept busy, I’d say he’ll head back to Cheltenham for Trials Day at the end of the month. He looks the perfect type for the RSA although, being such a dour stayer, the four-mile chase is another option. Ainchea, which won his maiden for in Sandown, ran a super race against Tikkanbar in the listed novice hurdle on Monday.
He’s only five and was tackling two and a half miles for the first time, in only his third start. The penny is only dropping with him and he’s a horse with a big future.
Both Fox Norton and Finian’s Oscar are being freshened up after their runs after Christmas.
I’d imagine Fox Norton will go straight to Cheltenham for either the Champion Chase or the Ryanair while Finian’s Osacr, which went down fighting in Ascot, would probably appreciate a confidence-boosting run somewhere in the next few weeks before going for the JLT or RSA.
It’s a weekend off for me as there are no Potts runners in England today and my agent couldn’t pick up any rides for me in Ireland.
But I’ll be keeping a close eye on the action, particularly the Grade 1 in Naas tomorrow.
I was very impressed by Next Destination when he won in Navan and I think he’s the only novice I’ve seen that could put it up to Samcro.
He doesn’t have Gordon’s horse to worry about and I expect him to win.