Tizzard plotting route to Grand National for The Changing Man

Joe Tizzard will chart a familiar path with The Changing Man on route to a breakthrough tilt at the Randox Grand National at Aintree. 

The eight-year-old, who is a general 33-1 chance for the world famous contest on April 11th, underlined his credentials as one of the most consistent staying chasers in training on his last start when finishing third in the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury. 

Following that effort, Tizzard will now freshen up The Changing Man in a bid to go one better in both next month’s Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster and the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March, ahead of sending him to Aintree. 

Tizzard said: “The Changing Man will be entered in the Grand National. He might go back to Doncaster in January and then go for the Ultima and then the Grand National. 

“He ran really well in the Coral Gold Cup. That was probably the most competitive race he has been in. He travelled great and jumped great and I might just keep the cheekpieces on him. 

“He is having a bit of an easy time now and I will then pick him back up in January. 

“I didn’t want to rush him after Newbury and go to Ascot, or anything like that, so I will just let Christmas go and have three runs in the spring.”

The Milborne Port handler admitted he is leaning towards giving Kripticjim an outing in the Starlight EBF ‘National Hunt’ Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on December 17th opposed to pitching him in the Grade One Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle at the Berkshire track later in the month. 

After chasing home Kingston Queen on his debut over hurdles at Chepstow, the Brocade Racing-owned five-year-old went one better on his next start with a stylish success in a maiden hurdle at Ascot. 

Tizzard added: “I think I’m going to take Kripticjim to an EBF qualifier at Newbury next Wednesday just to tick that box. 

“There is a handicap over two miles and five furlongs at Kempton Park later in the month as well, but I don’t want to chuck him in a Challow just yet.

“He has got a mark of one hundred and twenty eight and he might scare a few off in that race next week and we have then got loads of options in March.”