Fiddlerontheroof hits all right notes as he gives Tizzard team more Tolworth joy
By Andy Stephens
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Watch a full replay of the Grade One feature at Sandown on Saturday plus interviews with Colin and Joe Tizzard, as well as Robbie Power
Fiddlerontheroof and Power fly over the final flight on their way to victory (Focusonracing)
The Tizzard Tolworth has a certain ring about it and the Sandown executive may have to consider renaming it after Fiddlerontheroof provided the West Country yard with another triumph in the Grade One contest on Saturday.
Finian’s Oscar (2017) and Elixir Du Nutz (2017) have scooped the prize for the Tizzards in recent years and it was a case of anything you can so, I can do better, for Fiddlerontheroof as he stamped his authority on the race in the closing stages under Robbie Power.
It was a case of the further the imposing six-year-old who was not fully extended to beat strong-travelling Irish raider Jeremys Flame by six lengths. The runner-up is a reliable mare whose form ties in with some of the best novices in England and Ireland.
The pair pulled 15 lengths clear of the one-paced Son Of Camas – the others in the field left floundering on a typically deep Esher surface that so often sorts the men from the boys, and in this case the girls as well.
Watch a full replay of how Fiddlerontheroof landed the Tolworth
Fiddlerontheroof is now a best-priced 10-1 for the Supreme Novices Hurdle, the first race of the Cheltenham Festival, and is 14-1 for the Ballymore Novices’ over half a mile or so further 24 hours later.
Underfoot conditions will help determine which direction he heads in. The Tizzards are unlikely to lose any sleep over the choice over the next two months, especially with two other leading novices to juggle in the shape of The Big Breakaway and Master Debonair.
Fiddlerontheroof went off the heavily-backed 5-4 favourite and was devouring the testing conditions at Sandown for the second time in four weeks.
Cheltenham winner Hang In There set out to make all the running, but he was fortunate to survive a bad mistake a at the second and was a spent force early in the home straight, at which stage Fiddlerontheroof was sent about his business.
Jeremys Flame went in pursuit, but Tizzard's charge, every inch a chaser in appearance, never looked in any real danger of being caught.
Colin Tizzard spoke to Stewart Machin at Wincanton about Fiddlerontheroof's win
"He is a big, scopey horse who is improving as the season has gone one. He will certainly jump a fence in the future," said Tizzard's son and assistant Joe.
Before his first Sandown success, Fiddlerontheroof had chased home the high-class Thyme Hill in the Persian War at Chepstow, and was also touched off by the very promising Edwardstone on a sounder surface at Wincanton.
Connections went to £200,000 to secure his services last April after some promising bumper performances in Ireland for John Joe Walsh.
"He had some very good bumper form, and we saw him at the Aintree sale," added Tizzard. We loved his model and the physical side of him, hence we bought him.
"It wasn't that soft when he ran a really good race at Chepstow first time out - and with a bit of hindsight, he possibly could have really shaken Thyme Hill up. That is the best novice hurdle form in Britain at the moment.
Robbie Power says it was a case of the further the better for Fiddlerontheroof
"I think he is physically capable of handling this soft ground, which makes a difference around Sandown, but he has already proved he can go on good ground as well."
But what will his optimum distance be?
"We're not sure ourselves about the trip," he said. "He will probably have an entry in the Supreme and the Ballymore, and we will have a sit down with Robbie nearer the time and see what is happening ground-wise and make a decision of the back of that.
"You need to stay to win a Supreme - and he hasn't looked outpaced in any of his races, because he travels well, so we'll see.
"It is certainly the best team of novice hurdlers we've had. In an ideal world, you wouldn't like those three (Fiddlerontheroof, The Big Breakaway and Master Debonair) to clash, but it might have to happen. That is something we'll worry about in February.
"If we can get all three to Cheltenham in one piece and in the form we are in it will be a good problem to have."
Gavin Cromwell was delighted, meanwhile, with the performance of Jeremys Flame, who is likely to go back against her own sex at Cheltenham.
"She ran a cracker," said the County Meath trainer. "She's done everything right, and the best horse won on the day.
"You have to be pleased with that, because she is a lovely mare going forward. She is improving with every run, and that is down to her learning to deal with everything.
"I'd say we will work back from the mares' novices' hurdle at Cheltenham"
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