Colin Tizzard: Royal Vacation is my strongest chance of the weekend

2.50 Taunton
Weatherbys Portman Cup Chase (Class 2) | 3m4½f | 5yo+ | RTV

Colin Tizzard sends 12 runners out on a busy Saturday and he is confident Royal Vacation is his strongest chance of the day as he takes on six rivals in Taunton's £50,000 contest.

The nine-year-old was a fortunate Grade 1 winner as a novice, taking advantage of final-flight-faller Might Bite in the Kauto Star at Kempton. This season he has run with credit when second at Cheltenham and sixth at Sandown.

Tizzard said: “He ran beautifully first time out on good ground at Cheltenham, then he got stuck in the Sandown mud. This race is designed for horses like him and we’ve been waiting for it.

“He’s won round Taunton before, he schooled beautifully in the week and he’s got a marvellous chance. I think he’s my best chance of the weekend.”

Harry Fry is expecting a big performance from 2016 National runner-up The Last Samuri as he seeks a first success in just under three years.

The 11-year-old ran with credit last year, notably finishing runner-up in the Becher Chase and third in the cross-country at the festival. He finished fifth in last month’s Silver Cup at Ascot on his only run for Fry.

The trainer said: “I thought he ran a good race at Ascot. He was
doing all his best work at the end and that was over three miles, so a step back up in trip is a big positive.

The Last Samuri: finished second to Rule The World in the 2016 Grand NationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

"He hasn't won for a number of years but he's the highest rated and they go off level weights. I would hope it gives him a good chance of getting his head in front again."

Lizzie Kelly is at Ascot, so Chester Williams takes over for the first time on double Grade 1 winner Tea For Two, last seen finishing sixth in the King George.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Present Man and Vicente
This looks an ideal race for Present Man. It’s right handed and on good ground and he’s in really good form as well. He’s run two good races this season and I think he should run really well again. Vicente has been a little more difficult to predict. The only race he’s really run well in over the last year was the Scottish National when he was fifth. He’s in decent nick and we’d just like to see him run a bit more of a race than he has been recently.

Paul Nicholls: this looks an ideal race for Present ManCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Tom Lacey, trainer of Thomas Patrick
He will need the forecasted rain but he has been in good order all year. I think he has just been finding those big handicaps a little too much for him at this stage of his life. I would hope the tempo of this race will suit him much better. He just hasn't been getting a proper chance. He doesn't like those fast and furious races; he likes to warm into those races but you don't get a chance in those big fields. It has been an incredibly frustrating season, he is a hard horse to place but hopefully this will suit him better.

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