Sizing Tennessee is likely to miss the Welsh Grand National, for which he has been favourite since a storming success last weekend in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Colin Tizzard, who trains the 10-year-old, said the horse had not recovered as well as had been hoped from the Newbury race and now requires a bit more time between his races.
“I don’t think Sizing Tennessee will go for the Welsh National,” Tizzard said on Sunday. “He’s an older boy, he had a harder race than I thought. He’s a little bit shuffly. It’ll work very well to give him five or six weeks. The Welsh National is quite close and he had a hard old race.
“He’s older now, we’ve got to give him six weeks in between each race, we’ve got to look after him. So hopefully we can find something after Christmas. We only decided that yesterday, that it was not really what we should be doing. Now I’ve spoken to you, he’ll be fine.”
Sizing Tennessee was a revelation when drawing 10 lengths clear of his rivals in the Ladbrokes Trophy, for which he was allowed to start at odds of 12-1. He had been hard to win with in the two years since joining Tizzard from Ireland but his jumping has improved and he appears to have struck up a good relationship with Tom Scudamore, the pair of them being two from two this season. The Grand National could now be his main target for the remainder of the season.
Most firms had Sizing Tennessee at 7-1 or 8-1 for the Chepstow race on 27 December. Ramses De Teillee may now take over as favourite, though there will also be interest in Elegant Escape, runner-up in the Ladbrokes Trophy, who will ensure that Tizzard still has an interest in the Welsh National.
Tizzard had better news of his two candidates for the King George on Boxing Day, Native River and Thistlecrack having been second and third in the Betfair Chase a fortnight ago. “They’re both back in full, hard work at the moment. They’re both on the same path, they’re both going to go for that race. The prep race has been done and it’s which one is going to improve most for the race, but who knows that?
“Thistlecrack looks different from before he went to Haydock, he looks lovely. Native River is a Gold Cup winner and they’re never given to you. He’s a good, hard boy.
“Two years ago, Thistlecrack was a very good winner of the King George and that track suits him down to the ground. We’re just taking that a bit on trust with Native River but the race will be run at a hell of a pace and I’m sure Native River’s stamina will kick in better than it did at Haydock. You can make a case out for both of them, there’s not much in it at all.”
MUSSELBURGH
12.15 Outcrop 12.45 Thibault 1.15 My Charity 1.45 Monsieur Co 2.15 Liva 2.45 Court Liability 3.15 Elmono
LINGFIELD
12.30 Tribesmans Glory 1.00 Coded Message 1.30 For Carmel 2.00 Gregarious (nb) 2.30 Bally Longford (nap) 3.00 Cigarisi
WOLVERHAMPTON
3.30 Magical Molly Joe 4.00 Kynance 4.30 Unforgiving Minute 5.00 She's Got You 5.30 Perfect Grace 6.00 Foxy Forever 6.30 Aircraft Carrier 7.00 Barnaby Brook
Willie Mullins dominated racing in Ireland on Sunday with trebles at Punchestown and Cork to complete a six-timer headed by Min in the Grade One John Durkhan Chase.
Mullins’ seven-year-old was short of room approaching the penultimate fence, but he answered Ruby Walsh’s call by bravely going through the tight gap to hit the front before the last to beat the staying on Shattered Love.
Mullins said: “Ruby was maybe a bit bold there, but he had to do what he had to do. It was good and the horse responded. He jumped brilliantly and I was very pleased with that.
“I don’t mind going back to two [miles] at all, he pulled very hard in behind, and he has the speed for two. He’ll probably go back in trip for Christmas, but we’ll see what we have in his division. We have Un De Sceaux there and Great Field so we could try to keep this fellow at a longer trip and try to find races for him.”
Ladbrokes quote Min as 6-1 joint-favourite for the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March, while he is now as low as 8-1 for the Champion Chase.
Mullins and Walsh had earlier struck with Tornado Flyer, who looks set for bigger things following his successful debut over jumps in the Punchestown Racecourse Of The Year Maiden Hurdle, and the impressive chasing debutant Getabird in the GAIN Supporting Laois GAA Beginners’ Chase.
