Colin Tizzard happy with odds-on favourite Fox Norton ahead of Sandown Tingle Creek test
The Dorset handler made no secret of his delight at avoiding the high-class Willie Mullins-trained duo of Douvan and Un De Sceaux in Saturday's Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, with Tizzard's Fox Norton now an odds-on favourite for the Grade One.
COLIN TIZZARD has made no secret of Fox Norton's chances in the Betfair Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown following the Willie Mullins no-show.
With long-time ante-post favourite Douvan axed in controversial circumstances on Thursday morning and last year's winner Un De Sceaux running in the Hilly Way at Cork on Sunday instead, Fox Norton is now just to win the two-mile Grade One contest in Esher on Saturday.
The seven-year-old will be seeking his third Grade One success after top-level victories at Aintree and Punchestown last season.
He returned to the track looking better than ever when winning last month's Shloer Chase at Cheltenham for the second time and Tizzard admits the absence of the Mullins pair enhances his chances of victory.
"There are no Mullins horses, which is a plus," said the Dorset-based trainer.
"Fox Norton is in good form and obviously he's a lovely horse.
"We've had no hiccups with him since Cheltenham and we're very happy with him."
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Fox Norton has already proved himself a top-class performer over two and two and a half miles and providing he comes through this weekend's assignment unscathed, connections are not ruling out a potential first appearance over three miles in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father, told At The Races: "He was unlucky in the Queen Mother last year and probably looked at his best at Aintree over two and a half. Then he was good enough to win at Punchestown back over two miles.
"On this ground two miles is ideal, but he still holds an entry in the King George. He's only a seven-year-old and we will probably be stepping him up as time goes on. There is a possibility still for Kempton.
"It's all about Saturday, to be honest, and then we'll see what happens."
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Paul Nicholls has won the Tingle Creek a record nine times and is double-handed this year with last month's Haldon Gold Cup one-two Politologue and San Benedeto attempting to make it a terrific ten for the Ditcheat handler.
Nicholls said of Politologue: "He won very nicely (at Exeter) and has improved since.
"He's a second-season novice and by winning the Haldon Gold Cup it puts him in the frame, but he's got to improve again against the likes of Fox Norton."
Gary Moore's Ar Mad has been injury plagued but ran a storming race to finish a narrow fourth behind Un De Sceaux 12 months ago on what was his first start in almost 10 months.
However, he then suffered another injury and was pulled up on his comeback in the Haldon Gold Cup.
"This race has always been the plan and I'm very pleased with him so far," Moore said.
"Everything went wrong that could have gone wrong at Exeter. Don't write him off on that run.
"He had a few niggly problems when he got back from that race, but they're all sorted out now and he's going very well at home."
Templegate's Treble
NAP 2.05 Exeter - Calipto: 'He really should be winning from a mark of 135 with conditions to suit'
NEXT BEST 1.00 Exeter - The Russian Doyen: 'Made the frame on his bumper starts and can go close over hurdles'
TREBLE 12.50 Sandown - Shanroe Santos: 'He is just 1lb higher than winning over track and trip in March'
Charbel was not originally declared by Kim Bailey, who had been favouring Sunday's Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon.
However, the absence of Douvan and Un De Sceaux led to the Gold Cup and Grand National-winning trainer having a change of heart after the race was reopened.
Bailey said: "We wouldn't have been in the race if it hadn't reopened, but we had to think twice.
"I'm happy with him and he worked well earlier in the week.
"We're putting cheekpieces on him, and we'll have to see what the ground is like. If it went soft we might go to Huntingdon. It is quite an important factor."
The Tom George-trained Sir Valentino and Henry de Bromhead's Ordinary World, who now carries the hopes of Ireland, complete the line-up.