'Chepstow were unlucky' - Tizzards mull options for exciting Fiddlerontheroof

One Welsh track's loss may be another's gain as Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Fiddlerontheroof could head to Ffos Las for his chasing debut next week after missing it at Chepstow on Saturday.

Last season's Tolworth winner is highly regarded by trainer Colin Tizzard, and had been due for his first start over fences at Chepstow in a race the yard like to target, having fielded Cue Card, Native River, Finian's Oscar and Reserve Tank in it in recent years.

However, drying ground forced the leading trainer to withdraw the exciting six-year-old from the Listed 2m3½f novice chase won by Grand Sancy.

Tizzard's son and assistant Joe said on Saturday: "It will be down to the ground and whether it's soft enough at Cheltenham in a couple of weeks, or there's the Norton's Coin Cup at Ffos Las next week – he might get his ground there.

"If the ground was right there would be the Best Mate Beginners' Chase at Exeter on October 20 too. He's ready to run and as soon as the ground's ready, he'll run."

Grand Sancy: won the three-runner Listed novice chase at ChepstowCredit: Steve Davies/Pool

Team Tizzard are among Chepstow's biggest fans but three of Fiddlerontheroof's stablemates also came out because of conditions on Saturday.

"Chepstow were unlucky and I feel sorry for them," added Tizzard. "We love the track and support it as much as we can, but it's dried out and we can't be taking risks at this time of year.

"We worked Fiddlerontheroof this morning instead of running him and he looked beautiful, but he won a Tolworth on testing ground so we can't be risking him on that ground."

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