Good afternoon to all our Coral Racing Club members!

Ahead of West End Boy's debut run at Sandown, we'll be here to provide you with all the build-up and latest updates live from the track.

16:10 – Joe Tizzard shares his thoughts following West End Boy's encouraging debut

"I was really pleased with West End Boy’s run. He travelled nicely in the race, and then just got a bit tired towards the end, which was to be expected going up that uphill finish at Sandown.

He dived at one hurdle down the back straight, but was clever enough to correct himself, otherwise he jumped really well, and to do that on his first run is very encouraging.

We’ll see how he is tomorrow morning, but assuming he comes out of the race well, we’d look to get him out again in the next two to three weeks. And looking at how well he travelled, we can keep him to two miles, he doesn’t need to step up in trip at this stage."

15:50 – West End Boy finishes 6th on his Coral Racing Club debut

Tom Cannon [jockey] had this to say post-race:

"So happy, he travelled and jumped well, not a bad effort for the first time. We didn't go mad which actually suited him because it means he gets to travel and jump away.

We quickened up to two [hurdles] out and he just took a little bit of a blow, then he ran on again from the back of the last. 

It was his first time on a racecourse proper and he did everything very professionally.

He got a second wind from the back of the last and he took a bit of pulling up, so hopefully with that experience under his belt he may go a bit closer next time"

15:20 – John Hill catches up with two of our Owners for the Day, Amanda and Chris

John: How does it feel to come as an Owner to the races?

Amanda: Unreal!
Chris: Starstruck. To be sat opposite Gordon Elliott, and David Pipe's on our right... mind-blowing. This is what you see on Saturday on TV and we're living it.

15:15 – Catching up with West End Boy

We caught up with Joe Tizzard and Clive Hamblin (Vet) on the unique injury that West End Boy picked up towards the end of last year and how it was treated to help him get back to full fitness.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH




15:00 – Have you entered our Cheltenham Preview Night competition?

Win the chance to join Simon Clare, Tom Scudamore, Joe Tizzard and Paul Kealy live at Newbury racecourse on Sunday 5th March for the Club's very first Cheltenham Festival Preview Night! 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

14:30 – Watch West End Boy get raceday ready before his big day

CLICK HERE TO WATCH



14:10 – A trainer and jockey combination to make note of

Trainer: Joe Tizzard
Jockey: Tom Cannon
Rides: 8
Wins: 3
Strike rate: 38%
Level stakes profit (from £1): £48.82

13:40 – Did you know this about West End Boy's pedigree?

His sire, Westerner, ran for the majority of his career in France and was a high-class stayer on the flat who won five Group 1 races.

He ran 14 times at Longchamp which resulted in an incredible nine victories, and he also enjoyed successful trips to Ascot, York, Baden-Baden (GER) and Sha Tin (HK).

13:20 – Joe Tizzard shares his pre-race thoughts

“West End Boy is having his first run, and we’ve chosen to start him off straight over hurdles, rather than in a bumper. He’s done plenty of schooling at home, and he’s done it well, so we’re happy that he will do himself justice when it comes to his jumping today."

Race rivals

"There are some nice looking horses at the head of the betting here, Nicky’s [Henderson] favourite ran a lovely race to finish second here on his debut, and Givega and Mamoon Star are previous winners, so it should run like a proper race."

Race tactics

"I’ve told Tom [Cannon, jockey] to try to position him in the midfield, get his jumping into a nice rhythm, and let’s see how the race unfolds around him, but the most important thing is he enjoys this first racecourse experience, Tom won’t be hard on him, and this is all about the horse learning plenty. We’ll also learn more about him as well, and he’ll improve loads for the run too.”

13:00 – The team arrived at Sandown racecourse

We’ve arrived at @Sandownpark ahead of West End Boy’s Coral Racing Club debut! 🤩

Good luck to @TizzardRacing, @tomcannon2 & all of our owners for the day!🤞 pic.twitter.com/JVO8E4q3xr

— Coral (@Coral) February 16, 2023