Cheltenham remains on lively agenda

Joe Lively is still on course for the Royal & SunAlliance Chase despite failing to sparkle at Ascot on Saturday.

The nine-year-old won the Grade One Feltham Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day but finished a distant fifth behind Albertas Run in the Reynoldstown Chase.

Trainer Colin Tizzard thought the watered ground at Ascot may have gone against his runner but was not too disappointed and still has the Festival in his sights.

“He’s come back fine, absolutely 100% – he just ran a bit flat yesterday,” said Tizzard.

“He was only a length and a half behind the Welsh National third (Over The Creek) and in that top grade of racing, he just wasn’t 100% on the job.

“He wasn’t travelling after a mile and looked slow. I don’t think watered ground in the middle of winter helped him.

“They watered and there was a hard frost and it made the ground tacky. I thought we had seen the end of watered ground in the summer.

“There’s still all to play for at Cheltenham and the Royal & SunAlliance will be his next race.”