Tizzard’s two look set to clash
COLIN Tizzard has raised the mouth-watering prospect of Thistlecrack taking on stablemate Native River in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on November 24.
The 2016 King George winner has had three races since his biggest success over fences without tasting any further glory in what has been an injury-hit couple of years.
On his most recent outing in last year’s King George, though, he was a respectable fourth behind Might Bite, beaten less than six lengths.
While he has been given handicap options in the BetVictor Gold Cup and the Ladbrokes Trophy, Tizzard feels a level weights contest, which will mean a clash with Gold Cup winner Native River and possibly Might Bite, will suit him best.
“He’s fit and well, and we will probably go to Haydock,” Tizzard said. “We’ve entered him in some handicaps, but that is to cover all bases in case the ground stops us.
“He doesn’t need it heavy – as long as it’s softer than good.”
Meanwhile, in-form Philip Hobbs is one of many trainers praying for more rain so he can unleash Defi Du Seuil over fences.
The Minehead-based handler endured a poor season last term, but has begun the current campaign all guns blazing.
Defi Du Seuil went through his juvenile season unbeaten, winning the Triumph Hurdle by five lengths and following up at Aintree. But he never looked himself in two runs last term, finishing well-beaten at Ascot in November and then in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown in February.
The JP McManus-owned five-yearold is now set to go novice chasing.
Hobbs said: “He is ready to run as soon as we get a nice amount of rain.
“He will head to a novice chase somewhere, it is just a case of wherever has enough rain. His schooling has been very good so far.”
Defi Du Seuil is a general 25-1 shot for the Arkle Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Jamie Snowden is set to give Double Treasure at least another run over hurdles following his second place in the Persian War at Chepstow last month.
The Lambourn handler has a race at Cheltenham in mind for the seven-year-old before he thinks about sending him back over fences.
“I think we are going to go for the Grade Two hurdle on the Friday of the November Meeting (Hyde Novices’ Hurdle) at Cheltenham,” said Snowden. “He was second in the Persian War and is a novice over hurdles for the entire season, so we will see how high we can go over hurdles before going back over fences.
“He will probably get a Grand National entry later in the season as well, but we will see how far we can go over hurdles first.”
Snowden will continue to take a softly-softly approach with Thistle Do Nicely after he took his 100 per cent record over hurdles to two at Wetherby last week.
“He looked very good at Wetherby. We will stay in novices and work our way up the ladder. He looks very nice,” he said. “That Supreme Trial at Cheltenham might come a bit to soon, as he has had two runs in quick succession, but we will see.”
Snowden was also pleased with Monbeg Theatre’s run at Wetherby in the West Yorkshire Hurdle and may look at Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle next.
He said: “That was a belting run and that Grade Two at Wetherby was the plan for him. The chances are we will stick to the graded races and I imagine the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury will be the next one.
“I imagine at some point we might try to qualify him for the Pertemps, so we have the option of that or the Stayers’ Hurdle.”
Kalashnikov is set to make his eagerly-anticipated debut over fences at Warwick today.
Amy Murphy’s stable star enjoyed a fine novice hurdling campaign last season, winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury before being narrowly denied by Summerville Boy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.