Hot To Trot: Tizzard team continues the good work

Jumps: Colin Tizzard

Colin Tizzard was unable to win the Ladbrokes Trophy for a third time last weekend, but he still saddled two of the first six home and is likely to have been particularly encouraged by the effort of the third, Elegant Escape.

The seven-year-old carried top weight from a BHA mark of 160 and ultimately fared much the best of the Tizzard team, running right up to his best in first-time blinkers to go down by only two lengths, as usual doing his best work at the finish. He went on to win the Welsh National after finishing second in this last winter and may well head to Chepstow again, where the return to a marathon trip is sure to play more to his strengths

Moving on to Wincanton on Thursday and Copperhead identified himself as a staying chaser who is very much on the up in his own right, leaving the form of his debut over fences behind to win readily by four lengths. Still unexposed – both as a chaser and over 3m+ – he is likely to be hit hard by the handicapper but remains one to follow.

Copperhead is only five but a chaser firmly on the up, landing the £25,000 feature in good style for @colintizzard and @Robbie_Power_ at @wincantonraces pic.twitter.com/qoxYWpXMdm

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) December 5, 2019

Tizzard will be hoping to continue his good run of form in the coming days, with Duc Kauto appealing as one to consider if making a quick reappearance at Leicester on Wednesday. A winner on his chasing debut at Wincanton in October, he ran at least as well in defeat when second at the same venue last week, keeping on well to be beaten a little over a length; it will be disappointing if there isn’t even more to come from him.

Similar comments apply to Jaytrack Parkhomes, who has returned an improved horse this season after wind surgery, finishing placed in a pair of handicaps at Wincanton (traded at 1.22 in-running on the first occasion). He clearly possesses a fairly useful level of ability and surely isn’t far away from getting off the mark over timber (entered at Taunton on Thursday).

Under the radar: Rose Dobbin

Rose Dobbin’s yard was plagued by a virus last season which resulted in her saddling only seven winners, well down on the personal-best tally of 25 that she recorded during the previous campaign.

Those issues seem to be behind the team now, though, with six winners already on the board at this relatively early stage of proceedings, and the string’s fine form in recent weeks suggests there should soon be more to come, with the Northumbria handler having frequently hit the crossbar since saddling her last winner on November 16.

Dobbin is responsible for six entries on Thursday’s card at Newcastle, with Rath An Iuir and Vintage Glen appealing as a couple who could be worth a second look in the market. The former is a winning pointer who shaped well on his hurdling debut at Ayr and remains open to more improvement when going up in trip (bred to stay well), while Vintage Glen has only poor form in the book but showed more than he had previously when sixth in a race that has worked out well at Wetherby last time.

Finally, Espoir Moriviere has finished placed on his last two starts at Hexham, producing his best effort to be beaten less than two lengths on the first occasion. He is entered over that same C&D on Wednesday and looks sure to give another good account from what remains a fair mark.

Flat: David Simcock

David Simcock is only one winner away from bringing up his half-century for the eighth year in succession, and the fine recent form of his string suggests that he is likely to reach that milestone sooner rather than later.

Polybius took his trainer’s tally for the year to 49 when ending a long losing run at Kempton in late-November, and he wasn’t disgraced after five days off when fifth at the same venue on Wednesday, keeping on well to be beaten only two lengths in a better race. The eight-year-old probably would have preferred a stronger gallop on that occasion, too, and he remains one to keep onside in the coming weeks, still 1 lb lower than when also winning at Kempton in October 2018.

Shumba stepped up markedly on the form of his debut when second at Kempton on Thursday, knowing more this time but unable to keep tabs on the winner once that one quickened up. He remains open to more improvement as he gains in experience and should prove up to winning a similar event before long.

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Land Of Oz is enjoying quite a season and makes it 6 from 8 in handicap company for Sir Mark Prescott and @Luke_Morris88 in the Cesarewitch Trial at @NewmarketRace pic.twitter.com/8IETd5VVWk

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) September 21, 2019

Simcock is responsible for five entries on next Wednesday’s card at Kempton, with Smart Champion well worth looking out for if lining up in the 2m handicap. He proved better than ever when last seen finishing second behind the prolific Land of Oz at Newmarket in September, and, given that he was making just his fifth start that day, it's certainly not out of the question that he'll have more still to offer.

Another to note is Clap Your Hands, who could be a rare runner over jumps for the trainer at Warwick on Thursday. He is also entered in a maiden at Chelmsford on the same day and would appear to hold obvious claims if lining up there, with the form of his latest second in handicap company at Wolverhampton being comfortably the best on offer.