Joe Tizzard: “Finian’s Oscar bang in-form and good ground will suit”

Tizzard discusses his runners on Day One of Punchestown

4.20 Champion Novice Hurdle – Vision Des Flos

He didn’t get the trip at Cheltenham over 2m5f but he travelled really well up to the last.

We then dropped him in distance at Aintree where we probably chose the wrong tactics as we dropped him right in and he looked outpaced but stayed on at the end.

We will ride him right on the money today. He has a chance but he needs to be up there with the early pace.

6.40 Champion Novice Chase – Finian’s Oscar

This is a really good race. Our horse has a lot of raw ability. The penny dropped at Aintree and when you consider the mistakes he made when he came under pressure at the back end of the race, he still got there to win a Grade One.

This 3m distance should suit him perfectly as it will give him just a little bit more time over his fences. It is a real strong race where many are in with a chance but I really think the Good ground will suit our horse and I am hopeful of another big run.

We had a good meeting here 12 months ago and hopefully, we can follow that up again. There was a month between Cheltenham and Aintree this year but only 10 days between Aintree and Punchestown, therefore, that might have put a lot of people off.

Our horses have bounced out of Aintree well and look bang up for it. It might be a case of one run too many for some of them but they seem good at home and they have not had too much to do since then.