Joe Tizzard: “Reserve Tank and Fiddlerontheroof will take all the beating”

It’s a competitive enough race, and she’s won her two races so the handicapper has got hold of her, but I can still see her running a nice race. The hill at Fontwell just found her out last time but Wincanton will really suit her.

14.25 Wincanton – Reserve Tank

We talked about this race right after Chepstow as we think he wants good ground. We weren’t disappointed with his first run over fences by any stretch of the imagination. It’s cracking form and I think he will take all the beating in this race, sponsored by one of our biggest owners, John Romans.

15.35 Wincanton – White Moon & Royal Vacation

White Moon was running a blinder and looked like he was going to win when he fell last time. He’s been put up 5lbs, but had he won he’d have gone up 7lbs. He loves it around Wincanton, so we expect him to run well in what is a competitive race.

Royal Vacation wants a bit of good ground. He has the ability I just don’t know when we’re going to catch him right.

Aintree

13.30 Aintree – Lillington

Lillington had a fabulous year last year winning five races. We kept thinking that the handicapper would get hold of him but he kept on winning.

I think he’s a true two miler on softish ground, and we’ve had a bit of rain which will help. Scu seems to get the best out of him. It may turn out that the handicapper has got a hold of him, and he’ll have to run a few times and come down the handicap before he has his day.

That said not many horses win five races in a season and he’s now going to take our syndicate to some nice racecourses and nice races.

14.05 Aintree – The Russian Doyen

I think two and a half miles is his trip. This is a very competitive race but he’s now operating in this world. Hopefully with a bit of natural progression he can run well in this company. We are hopeful of a decent showing. 

15.15 Aintree – Vision Des Flos

We were going to go chasing with him, but then we saw this opportunity for a first run over hurdles over two and a half miles. If he can carry on where he left off at the end of last season then he will run a very big race.

We had him entered in novice chases but this race just tempted us, especially for a first run of the season. If he went and bolted up we might then get tempted by some other hurdle opportunities but the intention is very much to go over fences after this. We have schooled him over fences.

Joe