'It would be unbelievable' - Tizzards hoping for poignant Welsh National success

Joe Tizzard says it would be an unbelievable result should the yard's Coral Welsh Grand National contender Christmas In April win Saturday's race, which is named this year in memory of his late sister Kim Gingell.

The race sponsors are commemorating Gingell, the daughter of trainer Colin Tizzard who played a key part of the stable's rise to prominence after she died from cancer in May aged 43.

The Welsh National was chosen as it is a race the stable, which Coral also sponsor, have fond memories in. In 2016 Native River won impressively off top weight before Elegant Escape recorded success just two years later.

Welsh Grand National card and betting

Christmas In April is the stable's only runner this time round and is rated a 9-1 chance with the sponsors to provide connections with a heartwarming winner.

"We always target the race but it's really nice of Coral to run it in memory of Kim," said Tizzard. "It's been an important race for us and when Elegant Escape won we were being looked after by the Coral guys and we had a party and a half after! That's a really good memory.

"Simon Clare [Coral's PR director] has become a good friend and he was a good friend with Kim through the sponsorship. It's a really nice touch and when I first mentioned it to Mum, Dad, Dave [Kim's husband] and Freddie [Kim's son] they felt quite honoured to have a race named in memory of her."

Jubilant scenes after Elegant Escape's 2018 Welsh Grand National win for John Romans, Tom O'Brien and Colin TizzardCredit: Harry Trump / Getty Images

Tizzard, assistant to his father, added: "It'd be unbelievable if he [Christmas In April] could do it. Obviously there won't be too many people there but it's really nice and I think we've got a solid chance in a competitive race."

Unlike Native River or Elegant Escape, Christmas In April has a light weight with jockey Brendan Powell to carry just 10st 3lb.

But the nine-year-old has proven his aptitude for tough staying handicaps, winning the Sussex and Devon Nationals despite testing conditions.

Tizzard went on: "It's a step up in class, there's no doubt about that, but he's a proven stayer in these extreme trips on testing ground so it looks a good race for him. He's got a lovely racing weight too. He seems in great form and had a nice prep run, which he's come on for.

Friday inspection called for Chepstow's Welsh Grand National card on Saturday

"We won this with Native River and Elegant Escape, and one of those was a Gold Cup winner. But with Christmas In April it's a totally different ball game. I wouldn't say there's a Gold Cup horse in there this year so it's a different type of race.

"With the covers being down and with the weather we've had, this will take an awful lot of getting and, with no weight on his back, it'll be nice for Christmas In April."

On Wednesday night, the Tizzard team's leading jockey Robbie Power revealed he would be staying in Ireland for a short time due to the Covid-19 pandemic presenting travel difficulties between Britain and his homeland.

Robbie Power: 'I will be back within the week.'Credit: Alan Crowhurst / Getty Images

However, the Dorset operation have an enviable pool of riders to rely on.

"Robbie came over but at the moment it's not straightforward for him to move about as he has a young family," said Tizzard.

"So for now we'll go back to the rest of the boys like Harry Cobden, Jonjo O'Neill jnr, Brendan Powell, Tom Scudamore and Tom O'Brien.

"They all make the effort to come and ride out, there's been no parting with any of our jockeys.

"Once the rules relax Robbie will be back over. It's not the busiest of months so it makes sense. Once we get to near the time of Lostintranslation running at Newbury, I'm sure he'll be dying to get back over."

Read more:

Confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's Coral Welsh Grand National

Is racing on or off? Weather prospects and inspections for the upcoming meetings

Trainers 'were happy to go ahead' as Ffos Las cancels 13 minutes before opener

'He's definitely no 16-1 shot' – Hobson confident Welsh National runner can fire

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