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'She should be very competitive' - Colin Tizzard in confident mood

Colin Tizzard: has his string in great form
Colin Tizzard: has his string in great formCredit: Edward Whitaker

Wednesday: 1.50 Wincanton
racingtv.com/freemonth Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Mares' Hurdle Series Qualifier) | 2m5½f | 4yo+ | RTV

Colin Tizzard went pot-hunting with quite a bit of success on the final day of Winter Million weekend at Lingfield on Sunday. He landed the novice chase with favourite War Lord and also saddled Triple Trade, who ran out a well-backed winner of the novice handicap hurdle.

That took Tizzard’s record to six winners from 26 runners (23 per cent) in the last two weeks and the in-form trainer has one of the main players in this mares’ contest, Shirocco’s Dream.

Shirocco’s Dream is bidding for a hat-trick after wins at Exeter and Sandown on her last two starts and connections must think she has been winning despite struggling with her breathing as she has been given wind surgery since her latest success nearly two months ago.

Tizzard’s runners have been profitable to back blind after wind surgery, to the tune of £31.69 to a £1 level stake since they were first required to be declared in early 2018, but the trainer has given only two horses who won last time out a wind op in that time, and both were beaten.

Misty Bloom recorded her highest Racing Post Rating of 127 over course and distance, when landing a mares’ handicap hurdle in November 2019, and that is 7lb higher than she has achieved at any other track in Britain. The return here makes her an interesting contender.

She has been gradually progressive in three outings this season and was only 2lb below the form she showed when winning at Ludlow last season on her latest start at Doncaster, according to RPRs.

That came under claiming professional Jack Wildman, who is able to take 10lb off Misty Bloom’s back and has a win, four seconds and two thirds for Lavelle’s stable.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway


What they say

Jonjo O’Neill, trainer of Sacre Coeur
She ended up on the floor at Plumpton last time but has schooled nicely since. She’s consistent enough but is hard to win with off her current mark.

Joe Tizzard, assistant to Colin, trainer of Shirocco’s Dream and Born In Borris
Shirocco’s Dream is on a hat-trick after winning at Exeter on her reappearance and then what was a competitive race at Sandown. Surprisingly, she’s been dropped a couple of pounds for that and we’ve since had her wind done as she made a noise that day. She’ll enjoy the ground and should be very competitive. We're trying Born In Borris in blinkers as she’s been disappointing but she has schooled nicely of late.

Alexandra Dunn, trainer of Ho Que Oui
She’s an exciting addition to our team from France and the intention is to campaign her in this series, which is a fantastic initiative. She’s a winner over hurdles already and goes there in good shape, but it’s a competitive race as they often are at Wincanton.

Harriet Brown, trainer of Trump Lady
When she tried fences last month, she tried to jump them too well. She never really got in the rhythm she needed, so we took her back to hurdles at Exeter, dropped her in trip and rode her very positively. She's probably quite versatile on trip, she wants to be ridden prominently. She feels well at home but it's just whether she's deceiving us because she's a bonny little horse and always comes out of her stable enthusiastic for the job. She seems bright and well.

Jack Barber, trainer of Electric Annie
She was a good winner at the track last time and she should handle this longer trip but this looks a deeper race. Hopefully, she can be in the mix and the drying ground is in her favour.
Reporting by David Milnes


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Graeme RodwayDeputy betting editor
David MilnesNewmarket correspondent

Published on 25 January 2022inPreviews

Last updated 13:31, 25 January 2022

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