Another Grade 1 star for Tizzard as Slate House produces stylish Kauto Star win

Good horses make good trainers but a great trainer can make a good horse and that is exactly what Colin Tizzard has done with the always highly regarded, and often frustrating, Slate House – who can now be called a Grade 1 winner after a brilliant win in the Ladbrokes Kauto Star Novices' Chase.

The seven-year-old's trainer was quick to praise the ride of big-race partner Robbie Power, who burgled him into the race and travelled supremely well to win by a cosy enough length and a quarter.

But of the two he had the easier job and, once Master Tommytucker fell and hampered his stablemate Danny Whizzbang, the three fences in the home straight looked a bigger danger than Black Op who could never really get on terms.

"Robbie's buried him and going past the stands you wondered how well he was actually going, but in the back straight he pushed him a bit and he was right on the bridle," said Tizzard. "It was a peach of a ride, you take a risk doing it but it was a lovely ride."

However, Slate House is a more straightforward ride than he has been to train. He won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham on just his second start as a novice hurdler, beating Supreme hero Summerville Boy, before going on an eight-race losing streak.

Slate House: winner at Kempton on Boxing DayCredit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

The ability was there, but so were some problems and just when he looked to have put them behind him he fell when travelling strongly as the 4-1 favourite in the BetVictor Gold Cup.

"He's a different horse this year, we thought he was a good-to-firm horse two years ago. He had a summer where he stayed in his box and last year his wind wasn't great, but he's really grown into himself now and is a lovely, strong stayer – and he's won a Grade 1," said Tizzard.

"The second half of last year we put him in races we wouldn't have minded if he'd won, but otherwise we'd keep him as a novice this year. Taking him to Huntingdon has worked out, that was to get his confidence back after the fall. Sometimes you do all these things and it doesn't work, but if you keep doing what you think is right sometimes it does."

Asked if all roads now lead to the RSA Chase, for which his price now ranges from 8-1 to 16-1 with William Hill, he said: "Absolutely, definitely. He looks a thorough stayer and they were good horses he beat. Whether we have a run in between I don't know, we're only in December so I imagine we will. He's a proper horse now and he has a Grade 1 in the bag with quite a bit of the season left."
Stuart Riley

Happy Henderson

Nicky Henderson treated himself with a new horsebox for Christmas and his festive purchase paid off as Fred, the first horse to travel in the box, landed the opening 2m novice hurdle.

Fred: quoted at 33-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle following his Boxing Day winCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I bought myself a horsebox for Christmas and he's the first runner to use it, so we're all very pleased about it," said Henderson. "The last thing I said to Barry when I legged him up was that he'd love the track and he did. As soon as he got some daylight he looked very good."

That winning feeling

Richard Cheshire, part-owner of Commanche Red with his wife Carol, almost pulled his runner out of the 2m4½f novices handicap on account of the worsening ground. But he resisted and was rewarded with a memorable win.

He said of the Chris Gordon-trained winner: "It's incredible, a dream come true. It doesn't get any better to have a winner on a day like this, it's fantastic."
James Stevens

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