Joe Tizzard Saturday runners blog: 'A big run here would put us right in the picture for the Champion Hurdle''

• Moonlight Artist - Wincanton - 12.35 race odds

• Etna Bianco - Ascot - 1.15 race odds

• Alexei - Wincanton - 1.35 race odds

• Western Knight - Ascot - 1.50 race odds

• Kasino De Mottes - Haydock - 2.40 race odds

• Pedley Wood - Wincanton - 2.50 race odds

• Rivers Corner - Haydock - 3.15 race odds

• Striking A Pose - Ascot - 4.10 race odds

12.35 Wincanton - Moonlight Artist

Moonlight Artist is not flashy and probably one of the quieter horses in the yard, but he’s managed to get his head in front before, and this looks like a nice opportunity for him to run a solid race. It’s a small field and the ground is a bit of a question mark, but all he does is keep galloping. He’s pretty straightforward, and I’d like to think he can be competitive.

1.15 Ascot - Etna Bianco

Etna Bianco is a nice horse who won well at Ascot earlier in the season and then travelled strongly in the Challow Hurdle without quite seeing his race out. Our horses were just a little quiet in that spell between Christmas and New Year. I’ve put a tongue-tie on him to help him finish his race off better. He loves Ascot, and I’m expecting a good run from him.

1.35 Wincanton – Alexei

We’re taking on a strong field in the Kingwell Hurdle, but I’m really looking forward to seeing Alexei step up in class. The form from his last run at Ascot has worked out very well, and I thought he travelled beautifully that day. He’s in lovely form at home. This is a step up in grade, and we’ll learn plenty, but I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run a huge race. It’s an open year in the Champion Hurdle with Sir Gino out, and that makes it more competitive in some ways because everyone is tempted to have a go.

We had some fun in handicaps in the first half of the season, but it’s getting harder to win those now, so we’ll look to take the next step. A big run here would put us right in the picture for the Champion Hurdle.

1.50 Ascot - Western Knight

Western Knight also runs in a small but quality field. This is a bit of a fact-finding mission to see whether he truly gets three miles. He’s won his two novice chases and now must step up in class. He jumps beautifully and was second in a Grade Two novice hurdle over three miles at Cheltenham last season, so there’s encouragement he will stay. I think he’ll travel into the race well, and if he sees the trip out strongly, he won’t be far away.

2.40 Haydock - Kasino De Mottes

Kasino De Mottes had options this weekend, but he runs in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle over three miles at Haydock. I’ve been keen to step him up to this trip, as he shapes like a thorough stayer. He’s a lovely young horse with a great attitude; he travels and jumps and only ever does what’s asked of him. I think a proper three miles will bring out improvement in him. This race will tell us whether we’re good enough to think about Cheltenham, and it’s a nice £80,000 contest to find out in.

2.50 Wincanton - Pedley Wood

Pedley Wood won twice around Wincanton last season on similar ground, so that’s a big positive. He has won over three miles, but I’ve opted for two and a half here. Carrying 11st 13lb around Wincanton on testing ground would take some getting, so I felt this trip was probably right. He hasn’t quite shown me his best this season, but he’s more than capable of being very competitive in a race like this.

3.15 Haydock - Rivers Corner

Rivers Corner lines up in the Grand National Trial. He bolted up at Wincanton last time and got a 9lb rise for that, so this is obviously tougher. But he’ll stay the trip well and will handle the ground, which is crucial at Haydock. It’s a step up in grade, but he’s in great form and deserves his chance.

4.10 Ascot - Striking A Pose

Striking A Pose is a funny horse who holds back a bit, so I’ve left the headgear off to try something different. If he’s on a going day, he’s well capable off his mark. He does like things to fall his way a little bit, but if he doesn’t fire, we can look at dropping him a few pounds and going again. His turn will come.

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