Stars on display
RACEGOERS at Exeter were compensated for the late absence of the exciting Black Op, whose chasing debut was put on hold due to the unsuitable ground, when Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River and Thistlecrack, the 2016 King George winner, exercised after racing.
Colin Tizzard, the trainer of the two big guns, had earlier landed a 200-1 four-timer at the track with Russian Hawk, Norse Legend, The Russian Doyen and Watcomb Heights.
This remarkable run of success came after the Dorset trainer saddled five winners on Sunday. “It was just light exercise for Native River and Thistlecrack, it was about giving them an away day,” said Tizzard.
“They would probably have done more at home but it ticked all the right boxes.”
Both horses are on target for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday week.
More immediately, Tizzard has two decent prospects for Saturday’s BetVictor Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
“We will run West Approach (16-1) and Sizing Granite (33-1),” said Tizzard. “They are both in very good form. Sizing Granite could be the forgotten horse in the race.”