Tizzard mulls Lively bid
Trainer Colin Tizzard has the valuable staying contest, registered as the Cotswold Chase, in mind for the 10-year-old, who was sixth to Notre Pere in last week’s Chepstow marathon.
Joe Lively has won three times over fences at Cheltenham but Tizzard believes the handicapper has the horse’s measure at the moment.
“I think the handicapper has stopped him, but he was only beaten about two and a half lengths for second place,” he said.
“He seemed to run on again after the last. It was a lovely run, but off 155 we’re up against it for a while.
“He might go back to Cheltenham at the end of the month for the Cotswold Chase. I know it’s a class race but he’s 10lb better at Cheltenham than anywhere else.
“The options are very limited – he’ll have a Grand National entry and there’s probably a race at the Festival for him.
“I suppose we are in no man’s land. We’re either at the top in a handicap or up against Gold Cup horses where we are 20lb wrong.
“We’ve had a lot of fun getting there so I don’t want to complain too much.”
