Joe Tizzard: ‘You never know, Mister Malarky could run a big race in the Grand National.’ 

Coral ambassador Joe Tizzard previews his stable’s runners on Grand National Day

Our man Joe Tizzard talks us through his stable’s runners at Aintree today, including Mister Malarky in the Grand National.

Vision Des Flos and Reserve Tank run in the 13:45 at Aintree

We start Grand National Day with two in this Grade 3 handicap hurdle.

Vision Des Flos is dropping down the handicap to quite a nice looking mark, we have had a few issues with him, we’ve tweaked his wind a couple of times, and he does need to settle in his races better, but as I say, he has dropped to what looks a workable mark.

If he could run to the form he showed here and at Punchestown as a novice, he’d have a good chance, but he does need to bounce back.

Similar comments apply to our other runner, Reserve Tank.  He ran well enough first time up this season, after a long layoff, but then ran no race at Cheltenham.

He’s a Grade 1 winner here in the past, he looks really well in himself at home, and if these couple of runs this season have put him straight, he’s off a nice mark here too.

Striking A Pose runs in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at 14:25

On official ratings Striking A Pose has plenty to find here, but he won a couple of races before being pulled up at Sandown and we’re keen to get another run in to him.

We think he’s a nice horse and one for the future, but he does need to find a bit to get involved here.

Ofalltheginjoints runs in the Betway Handicap Chase at 16:15

Ofalltheginjoints ran a better race in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham than the bare result suggests.

He was travelling well at the top of the hill and probably just didn’t see out the trip, so Robbie Power looked after him and pulled him up.

He ran well here at the start of the season so we know the course suits him, I think he’s off a competitive mark here so we’re expecting a big run from him.

Mister Malarky runs in the Grand National at 17:15

We run Mister Malarky in the big one.

It’s the Grand National, so you can’t be too confident, and he’ll need to get into a good rhythm, that’s the key to him in every race.

If he gets off to a nice start, gets into that rhythm over the first couple of fences, then you never know, he could run a big race.

He’ll like the good ground, and he schooled really well over the National style fences at David Pipe’s, and while he’s never run over a trip this far before, he could give Jonjo O’Neill Jr a nice ride round.

Apart from Mister Malarky, I think the favourite Cloth Cap has a great chance.  He showed in the Ladbrokes Trophy that he jumps and stays, he warmed up for this with victory at Kelso, and he could be a ride and a half for Tom Scudamore in the race all jockeys want to win.

Joe

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