Joe Tizzard Friday runners blog: 'I'm really excited to have this horse back in action'

Joe Tizzard has two runners at Newbury on Friday, November 28. The Coral ambassador previews them both in his latest blog.

• Western General - Newbury - 2.25 race odds

• Diamond Ri - Newbury - 3.35 race odds

Newbury 2.25 – Western General

A big two days coming up at Newbury, and after another good weekend, we’re hoping the horses keep running so well. We’re building up to the big Coral Gold Cup with a couple of runners on Friday, starting with Western General.

He’s high enough in the handicap for what he achieved last season, but he ran OK on his return to finish seventh at Ascot at the start of the month. That was over the extended two miles, and I think this step up to 2 ½ miles will suit, as will the track, but I just don’t know how well he will go off this mark of 134, that’s the question mark over him here.

Newbury 3.35 – Diamond Ri

Diamond Ri is a lovely young horse who missed the whole of last season through injury, and we’re really excited to have him back on the track. Everything has gone well with him since he’s been back in work, but obviously we can expect him to come on plenty for this first run in nearly 600 days.

I haven’t lost any confidence in him despite his absence, I think he’s a really good horse, and we’ll ride him on his merits here, and if he gets a bit tired, Brendan [Powell] will look after him. However he goes here, I really would expect him to not be too far away next time.

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