Joe Tizzard: “At the weights, Oscar Elite is my best chance in Coral Gold Cup”
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Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard previews his runners at Newbury on Saturday
I think he needed the run at Exeter last time out. That was his first start of the season, and he will come plenty for that. He looks well at home and this distance of 2m6½f should suit him well.
He won a couple of times for us last season over fences, with wins coming at Kempton and Sandown. I am sure he will be able to add to his tally again at some point this season. I expect him to be competitive here and in with a good each-way chance.
This is a race that means a lot to my family. We have been successful twice. Native River won it for us in 2016, while in 2018, Sizing Tennessee came out on top. I’ve grown up watching this race, so to have won it twice, is a great achievement. We’d love to win it again. We always try to have runners in this race and fortunately we are able to saddle three this year.
Fiddlerontheroof ran a blinder in this race 12 months ago, finishing second behind Cloudy Glen, going down half a length. He is 5lb higher in the ratings this year, but he had a lovely prep run at Kempton, and he has come on for that. This has always been the early target for him, and I see no reason why he won’t go close again.
Lostintranslation is making his first appearance of the season, but he goes well fresh. He enjoys decent ground, and he should get that at Newbury. He is a Grade One horse who has dropped down to a mark of 150 now. It is a big day for my nephew Freddie Gingell, who will take 7lb off his back. We are all very proud of him. He knows the horse well, as he has ridden him plenty at home, and he schooled him around a point-to-point course last March. It is great to give him an opportunity in a race like this.
Oscar Elite (pictured above) has yet to score over fences, but he has some good form. He was third in the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last season. He is still a novice, but he is a second-season chaser. He has come on a ton for his prep run at Wetherby. Second-season chasers have a great record in this race and if he improves a fraction from what he has shown to date, I think he has an excellent chance.
All three of my horses should be competitive, but if I was pushed on which one I feel has the best chance, I’d have to say, given the weights, it is Oscar Elite.
He has only gone up 4lb for winning at Cheltenham earlier this month at the November Meeting. That race doesn’t look to have taken too much out of him. He has some good course form at Newbury, most notably his victory there in a handicap chase back in February. This looks like a great opportunity for him to successfully follow up.
Joe
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