There’s no getting away from that fact that we were disappointed with Conservative’s last run at Plumpton.

He’d been so well at home, and travelled well for the first part of the race, to then see him tamely pull up, was not what we wanted or expected to see.

We got him home and had him checked, just to make sure there were no issues that could have explained it, and when that was all clear, we got him back in full work. He takes his work well, and I may be barking up the wrong tree, but I do think there is something there that this horse is just not showing us on the course.

As a result, we’re aiming to run him at Stratford on October 19th. It’s a handicap hurdle over two miles, two and a half furlongs, and again we’ll look to be positive on him. It wasn’t the trip that beat him last time, but dropping back a couple of furlongs can’t hurt. I’m sure he has an engine, but some horses can fool us, and if he really doesn’t show anything on his next run, it may be time to consider his racing future, I just don’t want to give up on him too soon.

Joe Tizzard, Coral Racing Club Trainer

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