Gutsy Joe Lively back in business at Cheltenham
Joe Lively came right back to his best in the Servo Computer Services Trophy Handicap Chase at Cheltenham to set up a possible tilt at the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup.
Representing the family combination of trainer Colin Tizzard and his son and jockey, Joe, the nine-year-old put in the most dour of staying performances to deny 2006 Welsh National winner Halcon Genelardais by 14 lengths.
The stamina-laden 4-1 shot’s form tailed off somewhat last season but he visited the Cheltenham winner’s enclosure last December and was back there again after making most of the running for his West County connections.
Tizzard snr said: “We thought he was in damn good nick, but not to go and win as he has done. That performance opens up other roads.
“He’ll get entries in all the big staying chases, such as the Welsh National and the Grand National.
“We said that if he won today he’d go to the Hennessy, but he’s got a slight cut on one of his legs so we’ll have to see how that heals. If he’s OK, he will run.”
Coral trimmed Joe Lively to 12-1 from 20s for the Newbury contest on November 29, while Ladbrokes go 14-1 from 33s.
Grand National winner Comply Or Die faded on the second circuit and was pulled up by Timmy Murphy before the fifth-last.
Nigel Twiston-Davies will plot a route to the Royal & SunAlliance Chase next March with Ballyfitz after he put his love for the track to good use in the Sir Tristram Ricketts Novices’ Chase.
The eight-year-old was a winner of the Pertemps Final over timber at the Festival last year, and now has a date at the 2009 gathering after his thumping victory.
Paddy Brennan had the 4-1 chance jumping competently at the head of affairs and a solid leap at the second-last propelled him clear, allowing him to collect by 11 lengths from 11-8 favourite Big Fella Thanks.
The winner was given a general 16-1 chance for the SunAlliance, and his trainer said: “He will come back here for the next meeting and keep practising to get it right for the Festival.
“He has given 7lb to that lot and thrashed them. He could have given 14lb and still won.
“He is improving and you see few horses jumping round here and winning on the bridle.”
Evan Williams sent out his 50th winner of the year as Simarian entered the reckoning for the Festival with a ready success in the Ryman The Stationer Prestbury Novices’ Hurdle.
Totesport and Stan James quoted the former John Oxx inmate at 25-1 for the Triumph Hurdle after Donal Fahy brought him home seven lengths to the good.
The improving 10-1 chance served it up to 7-4 favourite Giorgio Quercus over the final flight and he relished the uphill climb to the line.
Williams said: “That is a surprise but he has been improving in front of our eyes every week.
“We thought we would win a little summer race and go from there, but his improvement has been dramatic to say the least.
“I have never seen him as a Triumph horse but if he keeps on improving like he has then who knows where he could end up.”
