Joe Tizzard: “We’ve got Native River in very good form”

Harry Senior ran a great race in second at Exeter last time and the winner looked a good horse. The third has come out since and won, so that form looks rock solid. It looks the right race for him and we are looking forward to running him. He’s a progressive horse.

12.15 Sandown – Fiddlerontheroof

His form line behind Thyme Hill in the Persian War hurdle looks very strong. When we ran at Wincanton we were trying to get away with it running at a sharper track but I think we also bumped into a really nice horse.

Back to Sandown over two miles up that hill should really suit him. If he produces the same level of form as his first two runs then he’ll take a lot of beating.

13.25 Chepstow – Muffins For Tea

It’s been a long absence for him. He was performing well over fences but I suspect he’ll need the run, which is why we are giving him a spin over hurdles to blow the cobwebs away.

13.55 Chepstow – Golden Sunrise

He actually had a little bleed in his last race, so you can make an excuse for that run. Small fields suit him so if Jonjo can get him into a nice rhythm then the race is perfect for him. He’s a big galloper. He’s not one to rely on but there was an excuse for his last run.

14.40 Aintree – Native River

The race has cut up to four runners and we have changed the headgear from cheek pieces to blinkers. He’s been in some hard races over his career, so the blinkers should just help keep him focused.

He’s had a couple of away days. He went to Newbury last Sunday and schooled beautifully a couple of times, and this has always been the plan. It looks a nice race. I don’t know what to expect from Might Bite but Native River beat him last year. We think we’ve got Native River in very good form, he’s won round Aintree as a novice, so this is the right race for him.

If he runs well in this race, then his next start will be in the Coral Welsh Grand National, and after that we’ll make a plan to take us to the Gold Cup.

It will obviously be a big challenge winning at Chepstow again off 167 but I think it’s doable. In fact, we probably train the main danger to him in Elegant Escape. It’s the right race for both those horses.

West Approach was fine after unseating Robbie in the Ladbrokes Trophy. It was just one of those things, and he hasn’t given himself a hard race as he only went a mile. His next stop will also be the Coral Welsh Grand National.

15.15 Aintree – Ultragold

His record around the big National fences is second to none. He’s just better round there. I think the big fences suit his jumping but they also play to his strengths as they give him a chance to breathe properly, whereas the smaller fences get him under pressure and put his wind under pressure.

He is 11 years old rising 12 and he doesn’t owe us anything, as he’s given us some cracking days out there winning the Topham twice, and placed twice in the Becher too. He’s in good form and this has been his main target.

15.35 Sandown – Royal Vacation

He ran third in the Badger Beer Chase and although it’s a competitive race, on his day he is more than capable of winning it. He seems in good form at home but it looks a good race.

Sunday runner

13.00 Huntingdon – Slate House and Sizing Cusimano

We are giving Slate House a confidence booster after his fall last time. We didn’t want to go chucking him back in the deep end without giving him a run.

Hopefully he’s a bit better than these, but they haven’t run away and it’s a good race. We have to give Sizing Cusimano a run in a novice chase before we can go handicap chasing.

Joe