TIZZ TIME TO SHINE
AFTER drawing a blank at last season’s Cheltenham Festival, Joe Tizzard is confident that can be rectified by taking the opening contest at this year’s meeting with Fiddlerontheroof.
Tizzard, assistant to his father Colin, could not conceal his delight when parading Fidderontheroof at their yard outside Milborne Port in Dorset yesterday.
“He’s in the Supreme Hurdle,” said Tizzard. “He’s got some outstanding form this season.
“I don’t mind if the ground is testing for him. He’s just a lovely, big horse.”
The six-year-old romped home in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January and with an abundance of smart novice hurdlers representing the stable at the Festival, Tizzard sees Fiddlerontheroof as their best chance.
“Yeah, he would be our best hope,” he said. “He ticks a lot of boxes. I would love to win the first race as it would get the ball rolling.” After numerous discussions between the Tizzard family, Copperhead will be targeted at the RSA Chase.
The winner of last month’s Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot had the option of the National Hunt Chase but there were reservations about securing a top amateur rider.
But Tizzard revealed that all the leading amateurs in Ireland had been on the phone asking for the ride.
“He has got the pace to handle that race and if he takes another step forward, he would have to have an almighty chance in it,” said Tizzard.
With 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River sidelined with a tendon injury, Tizzard thinks
Lostintranslation cannot be overlooked in next Friday’s chasing crown, despite pulling up in the King GeorgeVI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
“He had an away day at Larkhill point-to-point course where he galloped with eight of our Festival runners,” said Tizzard. “And the signs are good. I believe he failed to fire because he had a harder race at Haydock, when winning the Betfair, than we thought.”