Horse
trainer Colin Tizzard was in dreamland at the Cheltenham Festival.
His horse, Native River, won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as he outlasted
the favourites and shot the trainer into stardom. Tizzard's win has
sent the horse racing community abuzz. Some have wondered just who
the trainer is and if his horses can continue their form at the Grand
National. Horse racing fans wanting to follow Tizzard and his
exciting horses can do so, at Sbat
as he attempts to win the various races
at Grand National this year.
Starting
at a price of 5/1, Native River bested the Cheltenham Gold Cup
favourite Might Bite by 4 ½ lengths. Tizzard didn't just train the
Gold Cup winner at Cheltenham. Kilbricken Storm won the Spa Novices'
Hurdles and landed over £70,000 in prize money.
Tizzard's
two wins at Cheltenham give plenty of optimism that he can do the
same at Aintree. Tizzard has had previous success at Aintree and the
Grand National. In 2017, the horse trainer pulled of an incredible
treble thanks to his horses Pingshou, Fox Norton and Ultragold. In
particular, Ultragold's performance was one to remember. The horse
was a 50/1 shot to win the Topham Chase, which he did in shock
fashion.
Following
his wins in 2017, Tizzard's career looked to be on an astronomical
ascent. His treble was the groundwork, but it wasn't until the
Cheltenham Gold Cup that Tizzard's potential as a trainer was
fulfilled. Although he is unknown to most casual horse racing fans
and has a name not quite as synonymous with British and Irish horse
racing as his counterparts, Tizzard is on the cusp of being a major
player in the sport.
Tizzard
currently has one horse in the running for the Grand National race.
Sizing Codelco is 66/1 to win the race. It is an outsider's price for
the event. Sizing Codelco did compete at Cheltenham, but the horse
pulled up and didn't finish the Ultima Handicap Chase. Depending on
the horse's fitness, Sizing Codelco could miss out on the Grand
National. It would be a missed chance for Tizzard in the race, but he
will have others featured at Aintree during the festival.
Tizzard's
success at Cheltenham stopped the assault on all the races by
trainers Gordon Elliot and Willie Mullins. Tizzard could be the same
foil for the two leading horse racing trainers at Aintree, but he may
need another shock performance like he got in 2017.
This
season hasn't been without problems for Tizzard. Despite his great
successes, one of Tizzard's top horses, Thistlecrack, has not been
able to race. The horse was ruled out of the 2018 season due to
injury. It is Thistlecrack's second major injury of his career, and
there are worries that he won't return to run. The horse suffered a
stress fracture in his leg, and when it occurred, most believed
Tizzard's hopes of winning the Gold Cup were lost.
However, the
trainer overcame the loss of his horse Thistlecrack the cup with
Native River. Now with the Grand National approaching, Tizzard could
land more prize money and silverware when he takes his horses to
Aintree.