Tizzard Keeps Faith In Joe

Colin Tizzard expects Joe Lively to bounce back to his best when he lines up in the Royal & SunAlliance Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old has notched up seven wins including a Grade One success since August 2007, but turned in a lacklustre effort on his last outing at Ascot.

However, Tizzard is keen to draw a line under that performance and believes a return to Prestbury Park, where Joe Lively has already won twice, should bring out the best in the gelding.

"It was a disappointing run (at Ascot), there are no two ways about it. He was off the bridle after a mile," said Tizzard.

"He will be a totally different proposition at Cheltenham. I think he´s a different horse at Cheltenham, we will ride him really positively and on his best form around Cheltenham, they´ve got it all to do.

"I think he was just breaking in his coat a bit and he looks an absolute picture now. We´ve been winding him up a little bit this week and he´s taken it well.

"That was just a blip. I know he´s won seven out of his 12 races but he has thrown in the odd stinker in between and bounced back the next time so we´re not too worried about it."

Joe Lively is currently a best-priced 16-1 with totesport for Cheltenham and Tizzard believes those are fair odds.

"He´s come from nowhere and it´s a championship race so I think 14 or 16-1 probably represents his chances," he said.

"On his very, very best form he would take a lot of beating, but if he didn´t run up to that, he wouldn´t win."

Joe Lively may not be finished for the year after the Festival though, with Tizzard considering an audacious bid for John Smith´s Grand National glory.

"If he´s in cracking form at Cheltenham, he will probably go to the National," Tizzard told At The Races.

"I can´t see any reason not to. Who knows what he´s going to do next year? You have one chance in life, that kind of track and (over more than) four miles ? it could be made for him.

"He´s run eight times over fences and he spent three years point-to-pointing so he´s got plenty of experience."

(C) PA Sport