Joe Tizzard Saturday runners blog: 'He's a big, strong horse'

This has the look of a proper contest, with all the leading contenders standing their ground it’s going to be ultra-competitive. This fellow is a model of consistency, and is always on the premises, and off this mark he should be in the mix once more, albeit he could run into one in a race this deep.

As we’ve said here previously, we’ll be taking a small but hopefully select team to Cheltenham this season, and the weights were unveiled for the handicaps this week. My initial reaction to the handicapper’s work was that the horses got the marks I expected, I certainly wasn't surprised by any of them, pleasantly or otherwise!

In terms of running plans, The Changing Man will almost certainly run in the Ultima on day one. If the top weight runs, he will get in it off a really nice weight of 10-11, and as the betting says, he could be our best chance of the week. There is a very slim chance he could run in the Brown Advisory, but only if two or three of the leading fancies for that didn't turn up. 

JPR One will almost certainly run in the Grand Annual rather than the Queen Mother Champion Chase. With Edwardstone not running, he will have to carry top weight, but I think that's more doable than asking him to take on Jonbon and co in the Champion Chase.

Lord of Thunder will be right on the cusp of getting in to the Novice Handicap Chase that has been brought back, but I hope he does sneak in, because again I think he will be off a lovely racing weight. Like The Changing Man, he goes to Cheltenham off the back of a lovely, confidence boosting win, and off 10-6 he could be really interesting.

Rock My Way will get in to the National Hunt Chase, this is not the race it was, when it was over four miles for amateur riders, it’s now basically a staying handicap chase for novices, and he will take his chance, although I think he will need a lifetime best performance to win it.

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