Wincanton Thursday review: 103/1 double for in-form trainer Colin Tizzard

Colin Tizzard gave his mum an early Christmas present after Butterwick Brook secured the opening leg of a 103/1 double at Wincanton for the trainer in the feature All Sport Insurance For Sports Professionals Silver Buck Handicap Chase.

The six year old made it ninth time lucky over fences to give Tizzard a third successive victory in the 3m 1f having saddled Darlac to glory in the race 12 months ago and Copperhead to victory in the 2019 renewal.

Looking booked for second over the last the 3/1 chance, who is named after a brook in the Blackmor Vale in Dorset, rallied gamely before prevailing by a length to form the opening leg of a brace for winning rider Brendan Powell.

Tizzard said: “He is owned by the Butterwick Syndicate which includes my uncle Edward and my mum Marjorie, who has just rung me up.

“He stayed on well as I thought he was beaten after the last. We’ve never had too much joy after running horses back after a fortnight but it was pretty good ground and this looked a good opportunity.

“It looked as though he stayed really well. Those National type races we will look at. There is one back here later on and one at Plumpton. I think he will be that type of horse.”

It promises to be a big weekend for Tizzard who believes 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River has a ‘major chance’ on his return in the Unibet Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The evergreen 11 year old made a triumphant return in the Grade Two contest in 2019 before finishing third on his comeback in the race last year.

Tizzard added: “If you take his last two runs, when he was fourth in the Gold Cup and that race he won at Sandown (the Cotswold Chase, which was rearranged having been abandoned at Cheltenham), I think he is nearly as good as ever.

“On our gallops you would say he is better this year than he was last year. It is not an easy race but he has won it and come third in. I think he has a major chance.”

Tizzard will also be in pursuit of big-race success at Sandown Park on the same afternoon with War Lord who will bid to maintain his unbeaten record on his Grade One debut in the Close Brothers Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.

The trainer said: “He has done nothing wrong at all so far. He looked quite good up at Carlisle last time where he just got to the front a bit quick. He is a good prospect and could be anything still. He has had a good prep but we will find out more on Saturday.”

Owner Sax Purdie had more than one reason to celebrate the victory of The Widdow Maker, who completed the 103/1 double for Tizzard and Powell when scoring by five and a half lengths in the Dorset Blue Vinny Cheese Handicap Hurdle (FREE replay below in full).

Purdie said of the 25/1 winner: “There was a lovely rodeo bull in the 1970s called The Widow Maker and I always wanted to call one that but my wife wouldn’t let me as she said we would never get a jockey point-to-pointing.

“He was never the easiest to break in, hence the name. I backed him heavily at 33/1 and I couldn’t believe it as I thought he should have been 5/1 or 6/1.

“The family stays four miles and his brother won the Devon National. His next race was going to be over fences but we will have to see now.”

Former England and Gloucester rugby star James Simpson-Daniel was on hand to watch the Christian Williams-trained Jony Max (13/8 Favourite), who he co-owns with among others television star Carol Vorderman, land the Thorners Handicap Chase (3m 2.5f) by five and a half lengths.

Simpson-Daniel, also part-owned 2013 Welsh Grand National winner Monbeg Dude,, said: “He bumped into a couple of stayers on his last couple of runs so we decided to try him over the extended three and a quarter miles to try and get a win next to his name.

“I used to be a speed player in rugby running up the wing over short distances but this lad today has proved he is a real stayer. I’m involved in a couple of horses at the moment that are just small bits with nice syndicates that are a good fun crowd.”

Rider Will Biddick admitted it ‘meant a lot’ to steer Galileo Silver (11/8 Favourite) to glory by 11 lengths in the Evans & Co Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f) for friend and trainer Sam Thomas, who he will perform best man duties for next year.

Biddick said: “The race cut up a bit and it wasn’t the strongest of fields. He is a bit of a thinker as he has got his own way of doing things but it suited him being upsides one.

“Sam tried him in cheekpieces but he felt blinkers might make a bit of a difference. It was only a 0-110 but it probably done his confidence some good.

“I broke my ankle in May hence why I’ve not done much riding and why I’m blowing quite a bit. It is my first ride for Sam. I lived with Sam when I was 18 when we were at Venetia’s.

“He is my best mate and I’m one of best men at his wedding next year. We go a long way back so this means a lot.”

Listed bumper winner Rainyday Woman got her career back on track when leaving behind her odds-on defeat at Ludlow with a facile 11-length success in the Brickyard Farm Cheese Ltd 20 Years Anniversary Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (2m 5.5f).

Harry Derham, assistant to trainer Paul Nicholls, said of the 1/4 Favourite: “She jumped better than last time and the step up in trip helped her.

“Going around Ludlow around two miles has made her jump much quicker today. She is a lovely mare.”

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