Hey Big Spender: won over the Jewson's course and distance last time

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/ racingpostpix.com  

Jewson plan confirmed for Hey Big Spender

JOCKEY Joe Tizzard on Saturday confirmed Hey Big Spender will run in Thursday's Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase, for which he is as short as 9-1 with Coral.

Joe Tizzard: confirmed Jewson plan

  PICTURE: Martin Lynch  

Hey Big Spender, who is trained by Tizzard's father Colin, also had the option of running in the RSA Chase on Wednesday or the Byrne Group Plate on the same day as the Jewson, but the rider revealed connections have decided on the 2m5f handicap.

Speaking to At The Races, Tizzard, who partnered Flagship Uberalles to Arkle glory at the 1999 Cheltenham Festival, said: "He's going to run in the Jewson.

"We had the owners [Brocade Racing] over yesterday morning to watch him work and we had a chat and the plan is to run in the Jewson.

"He's got course-and-distance form and won well there last time. Although he's carrying 11st 8lb, the way the handicaps are compressed at Cheltenham means he won't be giving lumps of weight away.

"With the ground conditions we ummed and ahhed where to run, and the RSA looks a hot race, so we'll go the novice handicap route and stick to two miles five.

"He's got a great chance - probably our best chance at the festival."

Another of those chances includes Joe Lively, whom Tizzard will ride in the William Hill Handicap Chase on Tuesday.

"If Paul Nicholls leave The Tother One in, he [Joe Lively] won't have top weight and will run there, then go for the Grand National," added Tizzard.