Tizzard in Clover Joe Tizzard took a bit of fatherly advice on board before riding Lucky Clover to success in the Stg#30,000 Sporting Index Chase, the feature event on the first day of Cheltenham`s Open meeting today.The 10-1 shot made virtually all the running over the unique cross-country track, which features 32 varying obstacles over a course of nearly four miles.It was a feat in itself for rider and horse to make virtually every yard in a marathon contest but to do it on a track whose idiosyncratic layout has caught out other jockeys in the past magnified the achievement.Lucky Clover was headed briefly at the final fence by favourite Galapiat du Mesnil but rallied on the run-in to get back up in the final strides.There were family celebrations in the winner`s enclosure as Lucky Clover is trained by Tizzard`s father, Colin.'I told him to treat the race like the speed section of a hunter trial,' smiled Tizzard snr.'I said `Cut the corners, use his speed and keep asking him for more`.'For once, he has listened to his father!'The victory for Tizzard jnr was no doubt sweetened by the fact that Timmy Murphy, the man who replaced him as stable jockey for Paul Nicholls, was aboard the runner-up.It was not a day to be backing favourites at Cheltenham as Fireball Macnamara sprung a 33-1 surprise in the Gerrard Novices` Hurdle.
