Joe Tizzard: “Winning this race would mean a lot to me”

Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard discusses the chances of his weekend runners

Saturday

Wincanton 12.40 – Rose Of Arcadia

We always thought plenty of Rose Of Arcadia, but she just slightly lost her way, and wasn’t the ‘Saturday’ horse her original owners Cheveley Park Stud hoped she would be. However, they very kindly let us buy her back into the yard, and having got her confidence back with a couple of point-to-point victories, she won nicely at Chepstow last time.

She has gone up seven pounds in the handicap as a result of that win, and this looks a hotter race, but she’s in good nick, and it would mean a lot to me to win this as it’s run in honour of Richard Barber. I used to ride a lot for him, and he even trained me a Cheltenham Festival winner, so I would love to win this.

She will go novice chasing soon enough, as she jumps well, so with all options open to her, I’m sure she’ll win more this season.

Wincanton 3.35 – Butterwick Brook

I did actually walk the course at Wincanton ahead of the declaration stage for these races and despite all the rain we’ve had, it’s still lovely, quick ground here, which this fellow will love.

The 2 mile 4 furlong trip is as short as he wants, but we’ll put the blinkers on him to sharpen him up, he ran well at Chepstow last time, and we have to go again while he’s got his ground. If he’s on a going day here, he won’t be far away.