TIZZARD’S GOT HIS EYES ON ANOTHER BIG BREAK
COLIN TIZZARD reckons The Big Breakaway is his best chance at the Festival.
The Devon handler might have former Gold Cup king Native
River going back for the Blue Riband event but he’s lost no faith in his strapping six-year-old.
Fourth in last year’s Ballymore, The Big Breakaway made a pleasing transition to bigger obstacles when winning at Cheltenham but two setbacks have followed.
First, Tizzard’s chaser was defeated by Bold Plan.
While that reverse was put down to a sharp drop in trip, The Big Breakaway was beaten again returning to three miles by Shan Blue on Boxing Day.
Tizzard, though, hasn’t lost the faith as he aims to lower the colours of the mighty Monkfish in Wednesday’s Brown Advisory Novices Chase, previously known as the RSA.
He said: “He won nicely on his first start of the season before being beaten at Exeter, which was a bit of a balls-up on our part.
“We thought we’d give him a bit of experience and run him over two-and-a-half miles but that backfired a little bit.
“His run in the Kauto Star at Kempton was brilliant. In hindsight, he might have been ridden a bit closer to the pace but we had to drop him in and teach him how to race.
“He still ran a blinder behind Shan Blue, who ran really well later and franked the form. He’s already won around Cheltenham and is probably our best Festival chance. The plan next year will be the Gold Cup and we’re keen to give him plenty of experience.”
Tizzard may also run Fiddlerontheroof in the contest and said: “We think he’s a threemiler. He’s got a live chance and has a massive day in him at some point. He’s seriously talented.”