Sizing Tennessee

Sizing Tennessee ran a cracker to finish second to O O Seven in the Steel Plate and Sections Novice Chase at Cheltenham on Friday.

Weak in the market beforehand, Alan Potts’ horse travelled and jumped well through the early stages of his race just behind the early leaders Barters Hill and Its’afreebee. He couldn’t match O O Seven for pace when Nicky Henderson’s horse picked up at the third last fence, but he still kept on from there, he was the only horse who was able to get close to the winner, and he finished nicely clear of the third horse.

This race was rendered weaker than it might have been by the unfortunate injury that Barters Hill suffered passing the stands, but it was still a good race, it often is. It was run at a solid pace, and there could be several future winners emerging from it. It has been won by More Of That, Taquin Du Seuil, Dynaste, Grands Crus, Weird Al, Imperial Commander and Denman in the recent past.

It was notable that Sizing Tennessee was notably weak in the market beforehand on this, his first chase, his seasonal debut and his first run for Colin Tizzard. It is legitimate to assume that he will improve for the run, possibly considerably. He was a good hurdler for Henry de Bromhead last season, he made all to beat Bright New Dawn on soft ground at Navan last January, but it was always as a chaser that he was going to make his mark. He is eight, but this was his chasing debut and just his sixth race over obstacles, so he has plenty of scope for progression. He will be of interest wherever he goes next, but he could be seen to maximum effect dropped back to two miles and ridden aggressively.

11^th November 2016