Flemensfirth’s sons share favouritism for G1 Royal & SunAlliance Chase
28th January 2008
Bookmakers make two sons of Flemensfirth, Joe Lively and Tidal Bay, the 8/1 joint-favourites for victory in the G1 Royal & SunAlliance Chase over three miles at the Cheltenham Festival on March 12.
Trainer Colin Tizzard’s stable star Joe Lively (9g Flemensfirth-Forest Gale, by Strong Gale) cemented his position at the forefront of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase market when running away with the G1 Nigel Clark Stan James Feltham Novices’ Chase at Kempton on December 26.
The nine-year-old, who was bred by John O’Callaghan, was bought for just £4,600 by owner Richard Dimont and has proved one of the great modern-day bargains having notched up five wins over fences this season alone.
"He was a only a very light-framed horse and although he's still not very big, he's really filled out and despite all of his runs he's actually got stronger," Tizzard told At The Races.
"The first time he won at Cheltenham we just thought one or two of the others might under-
perform but he won so well and he's done it twice there now.
"He's a seriously good horse and although he looked like he was lugging a bit at Kempton last time, it didn't stop him and he still stayed on. His next target will be the Reynoldstown at Ascot (February 16) and we'll then head for the SunAlliance."
Meanwhile the John Dorgan-bred Tidal Bay (7g Flemensfirth-June’s Bride, by Le Moss) is unbeaten in three starts over fences this year and he might run at Doncaster on Saturday.
Trainer Howard Johnson reported that he has not decided whether the seven-year-old will go for the G1 Royal & SunAlliance Chase or the shorter-distance G1 Irish Independent Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
"I am tempted to run Tidal Bay at Doncaster," said Johnson. "I'm still not sure which race he will run in at the Festival, though. The SunAlliance looks the most open but he does have a lot of speed."