Relation to brilliant Thistlecrack set for Chepstow bow for Tizzards and Snooks

A relation to World Hurdle and King George VI Chase hero Thistlecrack will debut in the same colours for the Tizzard team at Chepstow on Sunday in the concluding bumper (5.15).

Robinsville, who will run in the silks of owner-breeders John and Heather Snook, will have to go some way to emulate his relation, who is a brother to his dam, the unraced Kayf Tara mare This Town.

Thistlecrack was initially hard to train for the Tizzards - owing to niggling issues - but soon came good when landing his first Grade 1 success in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree in 2015.

He then went unbeaten the following season over hurdles, with his wins including the Long Walk Hurdle, Cleeve Hurdle, World Hurdle and Aintree Stayers' Hurdle.

The son of Kayf Tara won his first four races over fences, including when beating Cue Card in a thrilling King George, while he was also second to Clan Des Obeaux in the same race two years later having spent time on the sidelines due to injury.

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Also among the family is the talented West Approach, a son of Westerner who struck in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Cheltenham and was second to Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle and third to Black Corton in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

West Approach was also trained by Colin Tizzard for the Snooks, although he was picked up for just £10,000 at the DBS August Sale in 2013 when offered by Wells Stud as a three-year-old.

He was bred by Robin and Scarlett Knipe and sold from Cobhall Court Stud to Waters Stud for €20,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland November National Hunt Sale in 2010 as a foal.

Robinsville is due to face seven rivals in the Invades, More Of The Good Stuff Open National Hunt Flat Race, including Hero, Diana Whateley's son of Saddler Maker out of a half-sister to black-type winner Cut The Mustard, and Jack Sprat, a Walk In The Park gelding out of a winning half-sister to Mildmay Novices' Chase scorer Aces Four and the Listed-placed Ocras Mor.

Paul Nicholls saddles dual runner-up Knowsley Road, a son of the great Flemensfirth who sold to the champion trainer and Tom Malone for £135,000 at the Tattersalls Cheltenham May Sale last year.

He was second in his sole point-to-point for Denis Murphy a few days prior to selling, having sold from the Beeches Stud to Milestone Bloodstock for €62,000 at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale.

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