Andrew Balding and Oisin Murphy will attempt to go back-to-back in the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap with recent Kempton scorer Fire Demon at Newcastle on Good Friday.
The Kingsclere handler and his long-time jockey linked up with Desert Cop when the race was run as a conditions event 12 months ago, but look to have a strong hand once again with the six-furlong shootout now taking place as a handicap.
The Juddmonte-owned son of Dark Angel produced some solid form figures as a two-year-old but has really begun to take shape since dropped back to six furlongs from the turn of the year.
He has won two of his last three at that distance and arrives at Gosforth Park with connections hopeful of a bold bid.
“He’s been very consistent and had just one little blip this winter when he ran at Lingfield and Ryan (Moore) just felt the track didn’t suit him that day at all,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.
“He bounced back nicely on his last start and I think the track at Newcastle will suit him well.
“He’s going there with a live chance and it’s great prize-money and a nice race – and if we could catch it, then it would be lovely.”
Those sentiments were echoed by Balding, who added: “It was nice to see him bounce back at Kempton and win well, as he got very unbalanced at Lingfield the time before that.
“On a conventional track like Newcastle again, I think he goes there with a sporting chance.”
Fire Demon’s jockey will know plenty about one of his mount’s chief rivals Blue Prince, having ridden him to finish on the premises at Lingfield the last twice.
Prior to that, David Evans’ Blue Point colt was seen getting the better of Sommelier over course and distance and his handler feels he could make a return to the scoresheet in the north east.
Evans said: “I thought he was a bit unlucky in the trial at Lingfield. He has come out of it in good order and I think he has a nice chance.”
Meanwhile, Sommelier has been kept fresh since that half-length reversal to Blue Prince on New Year’s Day, with Marco Botti’s charge meeting his old adversary on much better terms despite having to shoulder the burden of top-weight.
“His preparation has gone to plan and we are very happy with him,” said Botti.
“We wanted to bring him here fresh after his run in the trial. It is going to be a tough race, especially carrying top weight, but he has already proven himself at the track.
“We have booked Rossa Ryan and he has been lucky for us in the past.”
Karl Burke saddled El Caballo to land this prize two years ago and has two chances this year, with the consistent Media Shooter given precedence over stablemate Bazball by the odds compilers.
Spigot Lodge number one Clifford Lee agrees and has elected to partner recent Kempton scorer Media Shooter, who was a little over a length adrift of Fire Demon on his penultimate start.
Bazball, meanwhile, will have to snap a five-race losing run if she is to hit her sprinting rivals for six.
Burke said: “Bazball is coming off a bit of a break, albeit she has a low weight.
“Bazball has won at the track and they both have chances, but I think Media Shooter goes there with stronger claims.
“Media Shooter has performed really well on the all-weather and is probably going to be a bit sharper than her.”
Sprint king Mick Appleby is also double-handed in the race with G’Day Mate and Daring Legend, as the Oakham handler continues his quest to be champion all-weather trainer for a fifth straight season.
“I don’t think there will be much between them,” said Appleby. “G’Day Mate has more speed, so it will be a question of whether he gets home over the stiff six, while it was a bit of a rush to get Daring Legend qualified. I think they both have chances.”
There has never been an Irish winner of this particular Finals Day event, but Andrew Slattery will be bidding to change that with Dundalk regular Tarsus, who arrives off the ferry fresh from a success over all-weather veteran Harry’s Bar last month.
Slattery said: “Everything seems good with Tarsus. He has surprised us in some ways by how much he has come forward in recent months, although we thought he was a nice horse last year and he disappointed us.
“Declan McDonogh rode him the last day and said he would stay seven furlongs, so the stiff six at Newcastle should not be a problem.”
Sir Alex Ferguson has said it is “an honour” to have bred a horse good enough to run in a race such as the Dubai Sheema Classic with Spirit Dancer, who is chasing an overseas treble.
Trained by Richard Fahey, the seven-year-old has been a real late bloomer and a plan hatched after a victory in a Group Three at York has well and truly come to fruition.
Victories in the Bahrain Trophy and the Neom Turf Cup in Saudi Arabia have propelled the Frankel gelding into the highest company and he is now taking on the likes of dual Derby and Breeders’ Cup winner Auguste Rodin and Japanese filly Liberty Island.
“He’s looking great, I think he’s enjoying it out here actually, who wouldn’t, the climate is fantastic,” Ferguson told the Dubai Racing Club.
“It’s been success all the way, there’s been improvement every race. We’re honoured to be here, the type of race he’s going to be in, it’s outstanding opposition.”
It will be Spirit Dancer’s first run over a mile and a half but it is something Fahey has been keen to try for some time.
Ferguson added: “We’re quietly confident. In fairness, Richard has said all along that he thinks he’s a mile and a half horse. His Frankel pedigree suggests he should be able to cope with it, so we’re hopeful in that respect, but we don’t know.
“It’s an honour to have a horse in a race of this magnitude that you’ve bred yourself.
“When he won at York, Richard told us we were going to Bahrain and I said ‘Bahrain! What do we want to go there for?’ – and he said there was a great race there for him, so he’s the architect and we’re not going to argue with what he’s doing.
“We’ve enjoyed it, we’ve had a few days in Bahrain, a few days in Saudi and now a week here. It’s fantastic.”
It has been one success after another for Ferguson, who as well as enjoying victories abroad with Spirit Dancer, celebrated a Cheltenham Festival double earlier this month.
Charlie Appleby is likely to point last season’s Doncaster Futurity winner Ancient Wisdom at the Qipco 2000 Guineas as a stepping stone to a crack at the Betfred Derby.
The Moulton Paddocks handler feels the Newmarket Classic – for which the Aidan O’Brien-trained City Of Troy is the red-hot favourite – is more attractive than the longer Dante Stakes at York to give the son of Dubawi a trial for Epsom in early June.
He explained: “Ancient Wisdom won the Futurity on very soft ground and has been held in high regard from very early in his career.
“After getting beaten at Ascot he progressed physically, as you would expect from a Dubawi.”
Appleby is concerned that the Dante is closer to Epsom than ideal and added: “It’s possible there will be slow ground for the Guineas, and we will take a look at that with the view that a mile and a half will prove his forte.
“If I waited for York and the ground was soft, there’s not much time left until Derby to put things right should they go wrong, and it would be a more ambitious route to take.”
Appleby also had news on his unbeaten Classic-bound filly Dance Sequence.
He said: “Dance Sequence has done well. William (Buick) sat on her the other day and was delighted. We will take her to the Nell Gwyn and then the English Guineas.”
U.S. Elite International and National Education Trust have come together to recognize Kingston College, Edwin Allen High and Muschett High for their outstanding performances at the recently concluded ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys and Girls Championships held at the National Stadium in Kingston.
The three schools were selected as recipients of the 2024 Honorary Legacy Scholarships during a ceremony held at the Ministry of Education on Wednesday.
U.S. Elite International is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in the United States, whose mission is to support low-income and at-risk students through the college matriculation process, provide mentorship through their collegiate studies and help them graduate college debt-free.
The 2024 Honorary Legacy Scholarships recognize the winners of the 2024 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships, also known as "CHAMPS," and will be awarded as follows:
The Hubert Lawrence Legacy Scholarship for Champion Boys' School valued at J$309,000.
Hubert Lawrence was a renowned journalist, veteran, and world-class track and field analyst, whose monumental contribution to the sport is evidenced through his coverage of major track and field championships locally and internationally.
The John Messam Legacy Scholarship for Champion Girls' School also valued at J$309,000.
John Messam was an information technology professional but was most renowned for his valuable contribution to track and field, laying the foundations for hurdles in the country.
The Vilma Charlton Legacy Scholarship for Top Emerging School valued at J$154,500.
Vilma Charlton is a retired university lecturer and renowned track and field Olympian. She was the first woman to receive an athletic scholarship to Pepperdine University, USA, where she was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Each selected institution will receive an award banner that must be displayed in the institution for at least one year after receiving the scholarship.
“It is with these scholarship awards that we help to carry on the legacies of the lives of these people into the next generation,” said Keishia Thorpe, Vice President and Liaison Programme Director at U.S. Elite International at the handover ceremony.
“The students we serve are students whose stories represent our own and we are honored to work alongside the National Education Trust (NET) to make sure that schools in Jamaica that are working with these students have an opportunity to advance in wither the athletic or academic field,” she added.
National Education Trust Limited (NET) is a Registered Charitable Organization and a Government of Jamaica agency that mobilizes financial and quality resource investments for the education sector.
NET also implements infrastructure development projects for educational institutions in Jamaica to achieve greater levels of access to education and learning.
The relationship between U.S. Elite International and the National Education Trust (NET) began a year ago when the leaders of the organization, Dr. Treisha Thorpe and Keishia Thorpe, adopted both Excelsior High and Primary Schools to provide funds to help advance their technology and infrastructure projects.
The sponsorship, which is US$10,000 per annum for 2 years, is shared equally between the two schools and is facilitated by NET.
This year, U.S. Elite International, through its "Making Champions Project" Initiative, embarks on providing Legacy Scholarships, a single monetary allotment that will be awarded to selected institutions each year.
This initiative aims to empower schools to more efficiently support their students and prepare them for college by giving them the resources to enhance the quality of the academic and sports programmes they offer.
The group believes that by doing so, it will in turn, make it easier for students and, by extension, athletes to use their gifts and talents as a passport to higher education.
U.S. Elite and its partnering agencies will determine the criteria for these awards each year, but the stipulation that the products and funds be used to advance the academic and sports programmes offered by these institutions will main resolute.
Notwithstanding, the scholarship shall not be used for infrastructure or non-related sports equipment and will be administered through the National Education Trust (NET).
With an historic third-place finish at the Concacaf Nations League now out the way, Jamaica’s senior Reggae Boyz Head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson is hoping they can ride the momentum to an even bigger accomplishment, which is to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Though Hallgrimsson would have preferred the 2023/24 CNL title, as opposed to the bronze they secured with a 1-0 win over Panama, he believes the achievement represents a step in the right direction on their quest to add to the country’s 1998 World Cup feat.
“This is just a part of our journey. We were trying to build something for this tournament as there is a saying that ‘success is not a destination, success is not a date, it’s a continuous journey to the right direction’. So, we’re just working on improving this team, as our biggest goal at the moment is to try to reach the World Cup finals,” Hallgrimsson declared.
Jamaica’s third-place battle followed a heartbreaking 3-1 extra-time loss to United States in an entertaining semi-final contest that they led from the very first minute, but lost after Corey Burke’s last-gasped own-goal brought the opponents back into the game.
Still, Hallgrimsson took the positives from the tournament, as he pointed to the psychologically importance and confidence gained heading into the prestigious CONMEBOL Copa America, which also serves as part of the Reggae Boyz preparation for the World Cup qualifiers.
“This is a good step to play important matches, to play big tournaments, and to play strong opponents like the United States and Panama. They are two of the three highest-ranked Concacaf teams and we showed that we are closing in on this gap, even with the number of players not with us. So, I have to give a lot of credit to the players for the way they presented themselves for Jamaica,” Hallgrimsson said.
“I think it’s psychological just to know that we can face these teams of this calibre. Again, talking about missing players, I normally don’t talk about missing players, but it gives belief in what we are doing, and I think that is the biggest benefit for us,” he added.
Those benefits which Hallgrimsson alluded to, includes the fact that player such as Leon Bailey, Ethan Pinnock, Amari’i Bell, Demarai Gray, Michail Antonio and Shamar Nicholson all missed the nail-biting United States encounter. However, Gray and Nicholson played their part in the Panama win after returning from red card suspensions.
For the Icelandic tactician, the absence of key players provided the opportunity for other to not only show their worth, but also to stake a claim on spots for the Copa America and World Cup qualifying squads. Interestingly enough, it was full-backs Greg Leigh and Dexter Lembikisa that got Jamaica's goals across the two games.
“This camp has given us more depth in the squad, players really punched in and showed that they want to belong into this starting lineup. Jamaica is richer after this camp,” Hallgrimsson noted.
“Tactics, it was both because we were missing players and playing good teams so we thought it would be better to play with three at the back. Given that we played 120 minutes (against United States) it was a really good performance, a solid performance from the team so I’m happy,” he ended.
Jamaica is scheduled to face Ecuador, Mexico and Venezuela in Group B of the June 20 to July 14 Copa America, while Dominican Republic, Dominica, Guatemala and British Virgin Islands are their Group E opponents for the World Cup qualifiers, also scheduled to begin in June.
Kikkuli could be Juddmonte’s “dark horse for the year” as he prepares for the early stages of his three-year-old season.
A half-brother to the mighty Frankel and by the owners’ Classic-winning sire Kingman, he is the last foal out of Kind and is fittingly trained at Beckhampton by Harry Charlton, the training facility from which Kind blitzed her way to two Listed victories during her on-track career.
With such a regal bloodline, there was plenty of excitement surrounding the colt’s Newmarket debut towards the end of last season, where Kikkuli showed plenty of promise to keep on for second behind subsequent Listed scorer Zoum Zoum.
The third from that seven-furlong maiden, Balmacara, has recently given the form a timely boost and connections are hopeful there is plenty of untapped potential still to be seen from Kikkuli this term.
“Harry is happy with the horse and feels like the horse has done well from two to three, he has got a lot stronger and is training nicely,” said Juddmonte’s European racing manager Barry Mahon.
“His debut is good form and I think Kikkuli was ready for a day out that day. Harry had said he was far from the finished article.
“It’s good form and we would like to think there could be some improvement to come, so he could be a dark horse for the year.”
Kikkuli is set to stick to calmer waters for the time being with the goal of shedding his maiden status in the early stages of the campaign, while the hope from his team is that he could blossom into a big-race contender by the time Royal Ascot arrives later in the summer.
“We will probably start off low key with him and go for a maiden or a novice and then just see how we go,” continued Mahon.
“If he is going to make into good horse, then it will be probably from Royal Ascot time onwards he will be stepping into those good races.
“But if we can get a maiden or a novice done in the next six weeks or so it would be great and we can just move up slowly from there.”
Oisin Murphy is aiming to repeat last year’s All-Weather Championships Finals Day heroics when he returns to Newcastle on Good Friday.
The 28-year-old enjoyed a fantastic afternoon at Gosforth Park 12 months ago, walking away with a treble in some of the most valuable races on the bumper card and all for his long-time training ally Andrew Balding.
Murphy is back in the north east with a stacked book of rides and as well as linking up with Kingsclere handler Balding, he will also get the leg-up from John and Thady Gosden, Rod Millman and Roger Varian over the course of the afternoon.
One of the Irishman’s best chances of success is the Juddmonte-owned Fire Demon, who is the general favourite for the BetMGM All-Weather 3 Year Old Championships Handicap.
However, Murphy is full of respect for some of the other leading contenders in the six-furlong event having partnered David Evans’ track-and-trip scorer Blue Prince in his last two starts.
Murphy said: “I had a great day at Newcastle on this card last year. It’s a little bit more competitive this time and many of the races are handicaps.
“Fire Demon won well at Kempton and seems in good shape since the race. He seems to be improving, but I actually respect Blue Prince and Sommelier a lot – Blue Prince has already won there and I feel it will suit Blue Prince a lot more than Lingfield where I was just beat on him last time.”
Murphy will donning the blue and white silks of King Power Racing for Balding aboard recent Kempton winners Fivethousandtoone and Teumessias Fox.
It was in the King Power silks Murphy teamed up with Balding to land the Easter Classic through Notre Belle Bete in 2023 and synthetics specialist Teumessias Fox is fancied to repeat the dose.
“Teumessias Fox Fox loves the all-weather and goes well fresh. He has a lot going for him, he’s easy to ride and I would hope he would put up a bold show,” continued Murphy.
He went on:”Fivethousandtoone won really well at Kempton last time and is in great shape and is moving well. It’s a competitive race, but he’s fairly treated by the handicapper on past form and hopefully he will go well.”
Millman’s Just A Spark and the Gosdens’ Vaguely Royal are two other rides, and he will will finish the afternoon aboard another King Power Racing-owned candidate, the Varian-trained Fantastic Fox in the BetMGM All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap, with the six-year-old course-and-distance winner arriving having won three of his last five.
On a night of celebration and recognition, Team Jamaica Bickle (TJB) marked its 30th anniversary with an award ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Monday. Founded in 1994 by Irwin Clare, TJB Inc. is a Queens-based philanthropic organization dedicated to providing hospitality services to Jamaican and Caribbean athletes at the prestigious Penn Relays Carnival held at Franklin Field Stadium, University of Pennsylvania.
The ceremony, attended by esteemed guests and honourees, including US Ambassador to Jamaica N. Nickolas Perry and Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Technology Ali McNab, paid tribute to individuals who have played pivotal roles in Jamaica's track and field success over the past three decades. Among those recognized were 2009 World Champion Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Olympic gold medalist Michael Frater, Earl Jarrett of Jamaica National, and renowned entertainer Tony Rebel.
Unfortunately, Frater was unavoidably unable to attend. Both he and Foster-Hylton were recognized for their invaluable contributions as athletes representing Jamaica at the Olympics and World Championships. Jarrett was awarded for his role in Jamaica National’s partnership with TBJ. Tony Rebel, meanwhile, has been a worthy ambassador the organization over the years.
However, the spotlight shone brightest on veteran track coach Glen Mills, who received a special award for his exemplary service spanning five decades in the sport.
Mills, renowned for coaching multiple world and Olympic champions including Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, and Warren Weir, was honored with a proclamation from the United States House of Representatives, facilitated by New York congresswoman Yvette Clarke. Presenting the award, Irwin Clare expressed gratitude for Mills' profound impact on Jamaican athletics, both locally and globally.
"Tonight, Team Jamaica Bickle is honored to present a proclamation from the United States House of Representatives courtesy of Congresswoman Yvette D Clarke, for the work you have done not only here in Jamaica but across the world. Congratulations, Sir!" Clare exclaimed, acknowledging Mills' significant contributions to the sport.
In response, Mills expressed his surprise and gratitude for the prestigious recognition, emphasizing the honour it held for him. Reflecting on his enduring relationship with the Penn Relays, Mills highlighted his coaching tenure at Camperdown High School, where he achieved remarkable success.
“During my days at Camperdown, we were able to win something like 10 national titles in 15 years and we held a sprint record for 17 years, which is still a record, so I, too, enjoyed the delicious meals provided by Jamaica Bickle. The athletes were always in a hurry to get to the tent to before the food finished so it was always a good incentive to run fast so that they could get there quickly and so we had some really great times at Penn Relays.”
In closing, Mills commended Irwin Clare and Team Jamaica Bickle for their dedication over the past three decades, emphasizing the profound impact of their hospitality services on Jamaican athletes. He underscored the importance of TJB's mission in nurturing and supporting athletes, ensuring they perform at their best on the international stage.
"For you to recognize what they are doing, you have to be there to experience it; to see the Jamaican athletes how they gravitate towards that tent to get Jamaican meals," Mills remarked, acknowledging TJB's invaluable contribution to Jamaica's athletic success.
Next month’s Alleged Stakes has been identified as a potential comeback target for last season’s Derby third White Birch.
John Joseph Murphy’s grey kicked off his three-year-old campaign in the best possible fashion by winning the Ballysax Stakes at Leopardstown and was beaten only a neck into second place by The Foxes on his next appearance in the Dante at York.
The Ulysses colt ran another fine race in defeat when placed behind Auguste Rodin and King Of Steel in the premier Classic at Epsom, and while he disappointed in the Irish Derby, he rounded off his season with a creditable fourth place in a Group Three at Leopardstown in September.
George Murphy, assistant to his father, reports White Birch to have wintered well and hopes he will return to competitive action at the Curragh on April 6, granted suitable conditions.
“He’s in full work and looks super, he’s training very nicely,” he said.
“He’s a fine, big, tall horse so you’d hope he could improve from three to four. He’s doing everything nicely at the moment.
“I’d say that (Alleged Stakes) could be an option, but if the ground is completely bottomless we might just hold off for another bit. We’ll just see what the weather does over the next couple of weeks, but that’s definitely in our minds at the moment, to go for the Alleged.
“It’s got to the stage where you nearly can’t remember a good day it’s been raining for so long, but it’s surely got to turn at some stage.”
Should White Birch come through his return with flying colours, a return to Group One company in the Tattersalls Gold Cup on May 26 could be on his agenda.
Murphy added: “There’s a few races, those two (Alleged Stakes and Tattersalls Gold Cup) are high up on the list at the moment, but it’s been so difficult with the weather you just don’t know which way things are going to go over the next fortnight.
“We’ll play it by ear for the moment, but we’ll probably start over a mile and a quarter and explore going a bit further as the year goes on, that’s the way we’d be looking at it.”
Harry Cobden feels he finally has a chance of getting involved at the business end of the Randox Grand National after confirmation he will keep the ride on the 2022 winner, Noble Yeats.
Since the retirement of Sam Waley-Cohen, son of owner Robert, Sean Bowen had been riding the Emmet Mullins-trained nine-year-old, and he was on board when he ran a brave race to finish fourth to Corach Rambler last year.
With Bowen on the sidelines through injury earlier this year, his championship rival Cobden picked up the ride in the Cleeve Hurdle, which they won, and he maintained the partnership in the Stayers’ Hurdle.
While unplaced there, connections have decided to stick with Cobden for Aintree.
“I’m really looking forward to riding Noble Yeats in the Grand National. He’s trained by a very shrewd man in Emmet Mullins who knows how to ready a horse for this race as he did so well a couple of years ago when Sam Waley-Cohen rode him to victory,” said Cobden in his blog for Planet Sport.
“I’m glad I’ve had a couple of goes on him now because it does take a bit of time to understand how best to ride him. I know plenty about him, but I’ll definitely watch his two National runs back before the big day.
“Connections are quite keen for the ground to dry up a bit as he’s probably slightly more effective on a sounder surface, so let’s hope there isn’t too much rain between now and the race.”
He went on: “To have a genuine chance in the National is fantastic. Every other ride I’ve had in it hasn’t really had much going for it, so to know he stays the trip and has plenty of experience over the fences is great and I’m very excited.
“I haven’t had much success in the National itself, but I won the Topham a couple of times aboard Ultragold, so I do know the sort of horse required to go well around there. Unfortunately I don’t often get to the second circuit in the big race itself, so let’s hope that changes this year!
“It’s the biggest and most well-known race of the season and it would be amazing to win it. To me it’s only second to the Gold Cup and of course I’d love to win it. I’m very lucky to have a horse this year that has a proper chance and I can’t wait to have a crack at winning it on him.”
S L Horsfords St. Paul’s United maintained their lead at the top of the National Bank Group of Companies Premier League table with a 2-0 win over Honda Newtown United on Sunday March 24th at Warner Park, despite going down to ten men when Omar Francis was issued a red card late in the first half.
St. Paul’s have 12 points, winning all four of their Premier League matches thus far.
The goals came from Nicquan Phipps in the fourth minute and Kalonji Clarke in the 45th minute.
The St. Paul’s match was part of a rare triple header on Sunday; the first ending 6-0 to SOL IAS Conaree FC over Trafalgar Southstars; their first win of the season.
The goals came from Errol O’Loughlin in the 24th minute, Jahquan Hendrickson in the 28th minute, Byron Phillip in the 46th minute, Tijani Fahie in the 50th minute, Quanieki Clarke in the 64th minute and Shawn Martin (pk) in the 90th +3 minute.
The second match saw Flow 4G Cayon Rockets also earning their first win of the season with a come from behind to defeat Hotsprings Bath United 2-1.
Venreece Richards gave Bath United the lead in the 53rd minute before Cayon Rockets equalized 23 minutes later through Vinceroy Nelson. Five minutes later, Shaheem Prentice got the winner.
On Saturday March 23, SKELEC Garden Hotspurs and MFCR Old Road United Jets came to a goalless draw, while Development Bank St. Peters FC delivered a shocked 3-2 come from behind win against defending champions Rams Village Superstars.
Jayan Duncan (10th minute), Kadeem Rawlins (72nd minute) and Shavene Boston (89th minute) got the goals for Hotspurs while the St. Peters goals came from Joseph Wilkes in the 18th minute and Kimaree Rogers in the 52nd minute.
The National Bank Group of Companies Premier League continues on March 27th and 28th ahead of the Easter weekend.
Joe Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen will be one of just a handful of British horses flying the flag for the home side in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.
The grey has some solid form in staying chases to his name, winning the 2022 Denman Chase and finishing second in the Charlie Hall and the Betfair Chase during the same season before coming home fourth in the Coral Gold Cup earlier this term.
He reverted to hurdles for a sole outing in January and was last seen pulling up on heavy ground in the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival.
Tizzard is therefore hoping conditions will be quicker in Liverpool come the National as he believes the gelding has become more comfortable on a firmer surface throughout his career.
“He is (an intended runner), he’s had a couple of poor runs and as he’s got older he wants better ground,” the trainer said.
“I tweaked his wind after his hurdle run but if you go back to his Coral Gold Cup form where he was fourth, he ran a good race in that.
“He was staying on really well, he’s a horse that’s got a bit of class, he gets into a nice rhythm.
“I wouldn’t mind it drying out a bit, I don’t mind admitting I’d like a bit of decent soft ground for him.
“He’s got a chance of running a nice race, it’s no more than that and it’s a privilege to have a runner in these nice races.
“The horse has taken us to some special days out and there’s no reason why he couldn’t get into a nice rhythm and be bang there three out and get us all excited.”
Eldorado Allen has run at Aintree several times but never around the Grand National course, so Tizzard will take him to David Pipe’s yard at Nicholashayne to school over National-type obstacles.
“I’m preparing him as normal in his work but I will take him down to Pipe’s and give him a pop over the fences,” he said.
“I couldn’t live with myself if we didn’t do it and he went and tipped over at the first or something like that, you’d question yourself, so we’ll go down and we’ll jump eight or 10 National fences and that’ll be it.”
Tizzard’s runner is likely to be one of the smallest ever British contingent to line up in the race, but the trainer is not overly concerned by the situation and does not expect it to be permanent.
“That is where we are at the moment, I don’t like to ever get too negative about this sort of stuff,” he said.
“It wasn’t that long ago that were was barely an Irish runner but that is how it’s gone, there are two Irish trainers with a lot of entries but that happens every day in Ireland.
“It’s how it is at the moment but things will change, there’s no point in English people entering horses that they don’t think are good enough or the right type for the race.
“I’m sure if we had the horses then the English trainers would be running them, as simple as that, you’ve only got to look at our result from Cheltenham this year and see there are two are three horses that will be in the Grand National next year and that will increase the numbers.”
Old friends were reunited in Dubai on Wednesday morning, with Frankie Dettori and John Gosden on track together at Meydan.
Dettori brought the curtain down on his British career at the conclusion of Champions Day at Ascot, but is now settled in California and enjoying winners at Santa Anita and beyond.
His association with Gosden goes back many years and of the great successes they have enjoyed, a particularly remarkable one has been Lord North. Now an eight-year-old, Lord North will on Saturday bid for a fourth victory in the Dubai Turf – and Dettori was in the saddle for a spin on the training track ahead of the big day.
Gosden watched on intently and was pleased with what he saw, both from his horse and his jockey.
“Frankie looks in very good form, he’s riding fitter and lighter than I’ve ever seen him,” he said.
Gosden and his son Thady have four runners on World Cup night, with Nashwa (Hollie Doyle) joining Lord North in the Turf, Trawlerman (Kieran Shoemark) going for the Gold Cup and Emily Upjohn (also Shoemark) in the Sheema Classic.
The absence of a certain Japanese superstar is a boost for all in the Sheema Classic, but Gosden knows that the requisite luck will be required for all his runners.
“We hope for luck in running, particularly in the Sheema Classic in which there’s no Equinox, which helps matters,” he said.
Agenda emerged as yet another potential Classic contender for Aidan O’Brien after opening his account with a wide-margin victory at Dundalk on Tuesday evening.
A promising third on his sole juvenile start over seven furlongs at the Curragh in October, the son of Galileo was an 11-10 favourite to go a couple of places better on his return to action in County Louth.
A slow start suggested the three-year-old still has plenty to learn, but his latent ability shone through in the latter stages of the extended 10-furlong contest and in the end he was thoroughly impressive in beating Huxley, not too far behind O’Brien’s star colt City Of Troy in a Curragh maiden last season, by just under five lengths.
Agenda holds an entry in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby on June 30, while stable representative Chris Armstrong raised the possibility of him crossing the Irish Sea for a possible Derby trial at Chester’s Boodles May Festival.
He said: “It was (a lovely performance stepping up in trip), he had a lovely run as a two-year-old at the Curragh in a race that worked out nicely.
“He has the makings of a lovely horse, he’s still very babyish and raw. I think there is plenty of improvement but, when he gets there, he could be a nice one.
“We’ll probably look at a trial for him next, he might be one for Chester.”
Agenda was providing jockey Wayne Lordan with his first winner since returning to the saddle earlier this month, having been sidelined since suffering multiple injuries when unseated from the fatally injured San Antonio in the Irish Derby last July.
“Wayne gave him a lovely ride and it is great to get Wayne back on a winner,” Armstrong added.
“He’s a big part of the team and we have got to say a massive thanks to the paramedics who attended to him at the Curragh, to Jennifer Pugh and all her team, all the various consultants, doctors and physios.
“It has been a long road back for him, especially for his wife and his kids at home. In fairness, he got the best of care and he worked hard over the winter on his fitness.
“He has been back with us in the first week of January riding out. Hopefully, it is a good season ahead for him.”
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