Coral ambassador and leading trainer Joe Tizzard gives this thoughts on his runners this weekend at Taunton, Ascot, Windsor and Fakenham.
Joe Tizzard Saturday runners blog
Taunton 2.05 – Nordic Storm & Honey Jack
Nordic Storm is coming back after a wind-op, and he’d probably appreciate better ground, but I thought he might be balloted out of the race, so once he got in, we were happy to let him take his chance and I’m sure he’ll improve for the run.
Honey Jack won nicely around here last time, he really enjoyed himself, and while he’s a horse I can’t wait to see jump a fence, there should be more to come over hurdles, and I hope he’ll take some beating here.
Ascot 2.15 – Scarface
Scarface has been knocking on the door all season, and he has dropped to a mark he’s more than capable of winning off. He ran very well to finish second here last time, this is another £100,000 race so obviously competitive, but I’m sure he’ll be there or thereabouts, and one of these days he will get his head in front again, he certainly deserves to and has the ability to.
Taunton 3.15 – Le Ligerien
I’ve never run Le Ligerien over hurdles since I’ve had him, but he’s fit and ready to run, and I wanted to give him a spin. He's actually eight pounds better off over hurdles then he is over fences, so he could easily be competitive off of this mark. I have a veterans’ race at Warwick in mind for him but as I say he needs a run, whether or not he is as good over hurdles as he is fences we will find out here.
This horse has also had a wind-op, so he will need the run, but we just want to give him a nice spin round here, get his confidence back and then when the better spring ground comes around, hopefully that's when he will be winning races.
Ascot 4.02 – U Cant Be Serious
This is a lovely young horse who won nicely at Taunton last time. He's taking a step up in class here, but he had some decent bumper form last year, and he's a beautiful looking horse who we think plenty of. I think he's taken a step forward from his last run, and how he gets on here will tell us where we go for the rest of the season, and whether he is one for the big Spring festivals or not. I do think he is a horse with a big future.
Taunton 4.20 – Star Of Affinity
Star Of Affinity should enjoy stepping up in trip here, Taunton should suit him and Fred [Gingell} knows him well. He’s towards the top of the weights here, but I can still see him being competitive and he should have an each-way chance.
Joe Tizzard Sunday runners blog
Windsor 1.20 Hartington
We had a couple in this novice handicap hurdle at the first entry stage, but only Hartington has been declared. He’s progressed nicely this season, won well at Newbury two runs ago, and finished a solid second at Sandown last time, form I think will turn out OK. I don’t think the handicapper has been overly hard on him, so this looks a decent opportunity, with plenty of prize money up for grabs. I hope he can be competitive.
Fakenham 3.20 – So Said I
So Said I ran a blinder at Cheltenham last time, finishing second, and before that we got her qualified for this mares’ series final. This is a good pot on offer for mares who were rated under 115 at the start of the season, and I think she’ll handle a sharp track like Fakenham. She stays well, so Fred [Gingell] will make plenty of use of her, and for a mare rated 111, this is a really nice prize to have a go at.
