Don’t put my flying Fox in a box, pleads Tizzard
TRAINER Colin Tizzard warned punters not to ‘pigeon-hole’ Fox Norton as an out-and-out twomile chaser after he efficiently landed the Shloer Chase at Cheltenham yesterday for the second year running. With Nicky Henderson’s Arkle Chase winner Altior sidelined after a breathing operation, the eight-length defeat of Cloudy Dream led to Fox Norton, ridden by Bryan Cooper, being cut to 9-4 second favourite behind Douvan for next month’s two-mile Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown. But, pointing to outstanding multi-distance chasers like Kauto Star, Tizzard painted a scenario, following the wishes of late owner Alan Potts, that did not rule out a shot at the King George VI Chase, one mile longer, at Kempton on Boxing Day. Tizzard, also successful with hugely promising novice hurdler Slate House, said: ‘It was always Alan’s wish that we kept this horse away from (his Cheltenham Gold Cup winner) Sizing John while that horse still has a chance of winning the £1million bonus for winning the Betfair Chase at Haydock, King George and Gold Cup. ‘That still stands but if Sizing John gets beaten at Haydock next weekend and we win the Tingle Creek, Fox Norton is entered in the King George, just in case.’ Shloer Chase runner-up Cloudy Dream will be given an ambitious Cheltenham Gold Cup entry.