A Betfair Chase edge? Joe Tizzard happy to take on A Plus Tard at Haydock

Joe Tizzard hopes race fitness could give Eldorado Allen an edge over stunning Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard and his Betfair Chase rivals as he bids for an upset in Saturday's feature at Haydock.

Winner of the Haldon Gold Cup and Denman Chase last season, the eight-year-old returned with a fine comeback when second in the Charlie Hall Chase behind Bravemansgame last month, and bids for the first top-level success of his career at the Merseyside track.

However, he faces a tough test with A Plus Tard, who won the Betfair Chase by 22 lengths last year, and Gold Cup third Protektorat among his four possible rivals.

While Tizzard, who landed the race as a jockey on Cue Card in 2013, is cautious of the challenge he faces, he believes Eldorado Allen's Wetherby run could put him in the mix.

"If you're not in it, you can't win it. Cue Card's wins were very special for us and we've wanted to target horses at races like this since," he said.

Eldorado Allen: 'He's race fit and while he has a bit to find on form, something not impossible can happen to those who are running for the first time.'Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

"We're really looking forward to it as he's race fit, and while he has a bit to find on form, it's not impossible that those who are running for the first time could perform below par.

"He's in good nick and in lovely form. Off his current mark he's got a fair bit to find, but it's a £200,000 race which may only have four runners in it and it'd be silly not to take his chance."

Eldorado Allen is 12-1 to give Tizzard his first Grade 1 win as a trainer in a race his father Colin won four times with Cue Card [2013, 2015, 2016] and Lostintranslation [2019].

While the 3m1½f Betfair Chase trip will be the furthest he has faced, Tizzard is confident the test of stamina will prove to be no issue.

Tizzard added: "He's tightened up since his Charlie Hall run and he galloped right through the line there behind Bravemansgame.

"The trip was the only worry we had with him as he won a funny Denman Chase over three miles, but that was on good ground. The way he galloped right through the line makes us confident he stays."

Betfair Chase (3.00 Haydock, Saturday)

Betfair: 2-5 A Plus Tard, 100-30 Protektorat, 8 Bristol De Mai, 12 Eldorado Allen, 20 Frodon

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