Favourite Sizing Tennessee likely to miss Welsh Grand National

Sizing Tennessee is likely to miss the Welsh Grand National, for which he has been favourite since a storming success last weekend in the Ladbrokes Trophy. Colin Tizzard, who trains the 10-year-old, said the horse had not recovered as well as had been hoped from the Newbury race and now requires a bit more time between his races.

“I don’t think Sizing Tennessee will go for the Welsh National,” Tizzard said on Sunday. “He’s an older boy, he had a harder race than I thought. He’s a little bit shuffly. It’ll work very well to give him five or six weeks. The Welsh National is quite close and he had a hard old race.

“He’s older now, we’ve got to give him six weeks in between each race, we’ve got to look after him. So hopefully we can find something after Christmas. We only decided that yesterday, that it was not really what we should be doing. Now I’ve spoken to you, he’ll be fine.”

READ MORE: NFL Week 14 preview - Carolina Panthers can stop tailspin

READ MORE: Lomachenko overwhelms Pedraza late to unify lightweight titles

READ MORE: Racism in football needs to be dealt with at the top – Lord Ouseley

Sizing Tennessee was a revelation when drawing 10 lengths clear of his rivals in the Ladbrokes Trophy, for which he was allowed to start at odds of 12-1. He had been hard to win with in the two years since joining Tizzard from Ireland but his jumping has improved and he appears to have struck up a good relationship with Tom Scudamore, the pair of them being two from two this season. The Grand National could now be his main target for the remainder of the season.

Most firms had Sizing Tennessee at 7-1 or 8-1 for the Chepstow race on 27 December. Ramses De Teillee may now take over as favourite, though there will also be interest in Elegant Escape, runner-up in the Ladbrokes Trophy, who will ensure that Tizzard still has an interest in the Welsh National.

Tizzard had better news of his two candidates for the King George on Boxing Day, Native River and Thistlecrack having been second and third in the Betfair Chase a fortnight ago. “They’re both back in full, hard work at the moment. They’re both on the same path, they’re both going to go for that race. The prep race has been done and it’s which one is going to improve most for the race, but who knows that?

“Thistlecrack looks different from before he went to Haydock, he looks lovely. Native River is a Gold Cup winner and they’re never given to you. He’s a good, hard boy.

“Two years ago, Thistlecrack was a very good winner of the King George and that track suits him down to the ground. We’re just taking that a bit on trust with Native River but the race will be run at a hell of a pace and I’m sure Native River’s stamina will kick in better than it did at Haydock. You can make a case out for both of them, there’s not much in it at all.”