Tizzard left feeling blue as aces downed by Cheltenham-bound stars

Colin Tizzard came to Ascot on Friday full of the joys of winter, with two of his brightest prospects in tow. He left dejected, demoralised and questioning everything. Such is the life of a trainer.

First Tizzard watched his Grade 2-winning novice hurdler Slate House pull hard and then get left for dead off the home turn, only to stay on through beaten horses for a game fourth – performed to the tune of will appreciate further. Then came the crash, bang, wallop – and occasional whoosh – of Finian's Oscar jumping fences.

"Slate House pulled too hard," he said. "It was five weeks since his last run and he just pulled too hard for his own good. He's a big strong boy and he didn't help his cause."