Joe Tizzard will be delighted to have been among the winners in recent weeks and is backed to add to his tally with Triple Trade on day one of the November meeting at Cheltenham.
The former leading rider had big boots to fill after taking over the licence at Venn Farm from his father Colin last year – and while a tally of 55 winners in his debut season is not too shabby, big-race victories proved difficult to come by.
However, the success of Elixir De Nutz in last week’s Haldon Gold Cup put the team back in the spotlight and they return to the home of National Hunt racing this weekend with some nice chances.
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Tizzard and jockey Brendan Powell teamed up to land the Mucking Brilliant Paddy Power Handicap Chase with Amarillo Sky 12 months ago and in Triple Trade they have another major contender.
It took the seven-year-old seven attempts to get off the mark over fences last season, but he immediately followed up success at Wincanton with a wide-margin victory at Kempton to ensure he ended the campaign on a high.
He made his reappearance off a 10lb higher mark at Cheltenham last month and there was much to like about the way he boxed on to finish second behind Irish raider Dancing On My Own, who brought solid Graded-race form to the table.
Triple Trade has only been raised 1lb for his latest test three weeks later – and while in an ideal world he would perhaps prefer further than this two-mile trip, the soft ground should put enough of an emphasis on stamina to ensure he makes his presence felt again.
Tizzard will also have high hopes of striking gold in the SSS Super Alloys Arkle Challenge Trophy Trial with JPR One.
A high-class novice hurdler a couple of seasons ago, the six-year-old has returned from a year on the sidelines at least as good as ever.
He made a winning comeback over hurdles at Taunton in March and while he subsequently failed to fire at Aintree, he was thoroughly impressive on his recent chasing debut at Newton Abbot.
JPR One will need to step up again to follow up in this Grade Two, but conditions will hold no fears and he has run well at Cheltenham before.
Dual Festival hero Delta Work can make a successful return to the Cotswolds in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase.
Gordon Elliott’s multiple Grade One winner has won over the specialist course at Prestbury Park in March in each of the past two seasons, memorably getting the better of a titanic tussle with legendary stablemate Tiger Roll in 2022 and seeing off another Elliott runner in Galvin last term.
Galvin is again rated a threat, but crucially Delta Work has had a run – finishing third over regulation fences at Punchestown last month – which should leave him spot on.
IRISH NEWS YANKEE
NAP Triple Trade (1.45 Cheltenham)
DOUBLE JPR One (2.20 Cheltenham)
TREBLE Delta Work (2.55 Cheltenham)
YANKEE The Big Doyen (3.30 Cheltenham)
