Joe Tizzard: “I expect a big run from Aki Bomaye.”

Coral ambassador gives team update and previews Saturday runners

It’s fair to say we hadn’t planned yesterday for Dad to announce his decision to hand over the licence to me, but he has been talking about it for some time, so it was not a surprise.

I’m 41-years-old and we’ve been moving in this direction for some time, so I’m very excited and very ready for the challenge. I’ve still got to do my modules, so will look to do that over the summer, and the change will then be made at the right time.

It feels the right time for me to take over and for Dad to take a step back but it’s not going to change the dynamic of what happens here on a day to day basis. Dad will still be on the gallops every morning and is going to be very much involved.

I’ve always thought that I would one day be a trainer right back to when I was a jockey. When I finished riding at Paul Nicholls fifteen years ago and came back here, the three of us (Kim, Colin and I) have been building this yard up together. So I never thought I’d do anything else, and now it’s my turn to take the licence on.

Saturday runners

13:50 Sandown – Road Senam and Striking A Pose

Road Senam came over from France with quite a reputation. He had some decent graded form over there. It hasn’t really happened, and I think he may be one of those French horses who takes a little time to acclimatise.

He’s improved with each run and his jumping is getting better. He should be more than capable of winning off his mark so we are running in these nice races. If he wins he lands a nice pot, and if he doesn’t then he’s still a maiden for next year. He’s going in the right direction, but whether he is ready to win a race like this I’m not sure.