Joe Tizzard Saturday runners blog: 'I do think Triple Trade has a proper chance'

Newton Abbot 2.35 – Tractor Jack

A busy day for us, with runners at opposite ends of the country, starting with Tractor Jack making his chasing debut.  There’s no getting away from it, he’s a moderate horse, he’s a bit slow, but I do think he’s capable of winning a race, particularly if the fences can bring out some improvement in him, although he might just need this first run over the bigger obstacles to get some experience.   

Newton Abbot 3.10 – Reel Orange 

Reel Orange has had a couple of runs for us now, I think she’s got ability but I’m just not sure she tried very hard at Hereford last time, so we’ll put the sheepskin cheekpieces on her here to try to sharpen her up.  We’ll pop her out in front here, be positive, it doesn’t look the strongest of races so I hope she can go well.

Haydock 3.20 – Triple Trade & The Widdow Maker

We run a couple in the big £100,000 Veterans’ Final, as you’d expect for such good money, it’s drawn a deep field. It’s been in the back of our minds for Triple Trade all season, he loved stepping up in trip to 2 ½ miles at Sandown in January, and as a 10-y-o, he’s one of the youngsters in the field!  I think he’ll run a big race, and I’m really looking forward to it.

The Widdow Maker had a bit of a setback mid season so has been off since November, but he qualified for this before then, so we’ve taken him away for a gallop, and he’s fit enough for this.  He ran sixth in the race last year, albeit that was a weaker renewal, but he’s capable of surprising us, so if he had a small each-way chance it wouldn’t be the biggest shock.

Newton Abbot 3.49 – Scarface

Scarface ran really well to finish third at Newbury last time, and he’s in such good nick at home, we’re happy to get him back out a fortnight later.  He’s won over this course and distance before, and although he has to carry top weight here, that’s because he is the best horse in the race, and I hope he can prove it.  

Haydock 3.55 – I Shut That d’Or

I Shut That d’Or is returning from a long absence but he was very consistent prior to that break.  He’s had a racecourse gallop at Wincanton and we’re looking forward to getting him going again, he’s a nice horse.

Newton Abbot 4.20 – Walk Tall & Striking A Pose

We run two of the eight in this handicap hurdle.  Striking A Pose has been a good horse for connections and given them a lot of fun, but he is just becoming a bit of a monkey these days, he has the ability, he just doesn’t always use it.

Walk Tall should love this ground, just on the easy side of good, he’s a chaser for next season but he ran well to finish second last time, and he’s only six, so there should be more to come off a lovely low weight here.  He looks the best of my pair here anyway.

Newton Abbot 4.55 - Whodunit

Whodunit is a home bred owned by dad [Colin] and John Waterworth, she didn’t show an awful lot on her debut in February, but she goes alright at home.  She’s not a big filly, so this is the right race for her, confined to 4-y-o fillies, and with the benefit of that debut run behind her, we just want to see some improvement.

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