Joe Tizzard: He’s back to form and goes there with a chance

Trainer and Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard discusses the prospects of his five runners at Cheltenham and Fontwell this weekend.

Saturday

Cheltenham 3.30 – Gyenyame

Gyenyame ran really well on his seasonal return at Wincanton last month, finishing second under a big weight, and he should improve for that outing. We were really taken with him when he won a novice hurdle at Wincanton last season, but for whatever reason he then didn’t really show up on his next run at Exeter, so it was pleasing to see him back to form last time.

The track will be very different to Wincanton, and the ground the softest he’s encountered, but if he can cope with both those things, I’d say he’s fairly handicapped, and in what has turned out to be a relatively small field, he goes there with a chance.

Cheltenham 4.05 – Sunset Marquesa

We don’t win too many bumpers generally, but this filly won well at Aintree last month, really galloping all the way through the line, so we felt she was entitled to take her chance in this Listed company. As you’d expect for the track and the grade, it’s a decent looking contest, so we know it won’t be easy, but as I say, she deserves to take her chance.

It’s a recurring theme with my runners, but she should improve for her first run of the season, and the way she finished her race at Aintree tells me the uphill finish at Cheltenham shouldn’t be a problem. If she could be placed and earn some black type, that would be job done, any more than that would be a bonus.

Sunday

Cheltenham 1.10 – Ticking Tom Bomb