Joe Tizzard: “A winner here this week would mean everything”

Trainer and Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard discusses the chances of his two runners at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday.

Cheltenham 2.50, Ultima Handicap Chase – The Big Breakaway & Oscar Elite

It’s an exciting day, having my first Cheltenham Festival runners as the licence holder, and I start the week with two in the Ultima. Oscar Elite does handle cut in the ground but is probably best on good ground, while The Big Breakaway goes well in soft ground, so whatever happens with the going, it should at least suit one of my pair.

If I was guessing, I would expect the ground to be absolutely fine for both though, as the strong wind will be drying any rain that falls, and as it’s the first day, the ground will be fresh and not cut up. I certainly don’t expect to be using the going as an excuse for either horse!

Oscar Elite (pictured below) won the Reynoldstown well, and I’m delighted to have Harry Cobden ride him again, as he gets on well with him and is riding really well this season. He’s only a pound higher than last season, when he finished third here, and he comes into this year’s race in better form, so there’s every reason to think he can be involved in the business end.

The Big Breakaway has been in terrific form this season, finishing second at Haydock and Chepstow, he’s got winning course form, and while he carries much more weight than Oscar Elite, it’s a fair mark based on his achievements. This is very much a target in its own right, and not just a prep for Aintree [Grand National], there’s a decent gap between the meetings, so let’s get this out of the way and then worry about the National.