TIZZARD’S BIG VICTORY

THE BIG BREAKAWAY was cut to 12-1 by Coral for the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March after easily winning the battle of the expensive purchases at Newbury yesterday. The Colin Tizzard-trained 1-2 favourite, who cost €360,000 (£306,000), gave 6lb and a seven-length beating to Jonjo O’Neill-trained Papa Tango Charly, who cost £440,000, in the Conundrum Stallions National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle. Tizzard said: ‘He is as lovely a staying novice as we’ve had. He cruised through it without visibly doing too much. We could take him to Cheltenham for Festival Trials Day (January 25), which would be ideal for his education. ‘I am sure he will be entered in the two-and-a-half-mile and three-mile novice hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival but if he keeps winning he will stay at two and a half.’ The Big Breakaway was ridden by Robbie Power, who completed a double when Jessica Harrington-trained Magic of Light, last season’s Grand National runner-up, won the Thoroughbred Breeders Association Mares’ Chase for the second year running. Meanwhile, the BHA and Horse Racing Ireland have announced a trial with irregular race times in February. It will mean some races going off at start times unfamiliar to British racegoers, rather than the standard five-minute marks, for instance 3.08 compared to 3.10. It is hoped the more flexible timings will reduce the incidents of races clashing, especially during busy periods, which has been especially frustrating for broadcasters and their viewers.