Raceday LIVE – Conservative
Related horse(s):
ConservativeRead our Raceday LIVE Preview below and join us ahead of the race for all the build-up and live updates from the track with the team and Conservative's lucky owners for the day across our social channels on X (@coral) and Instagram (@coralofficial).
Raceday LIVE Preview
Conservative will be looking to get back on track at Bath today after disappointing slightly on his first run for Joe Tizzard at the same course just over a week ago.
His work at home had been impressing Joe in the weeks building up to the race, but it looked as though he was in need of some race fitness having weakened out of contention tamely over the extended 1m3f trip.
Today Conservative drops back down in trip to a mile, a distance he's shown promise over previously, including his sole victory to date when trained by Martyn Meade back in 2022.
It's likely that he'll be sent out in front under Callum Hutchinson, who's making his Coral Racing Club debut in the saddle, which again is the kind of tactics that have seemingly gotten the best out of the club's five-year-old gelding in the past. From his early efforts at Southwell and Wolverhampton after he'd first joined the club, he was either prominent or led the pack, and that saw him finish a close 6th and 4th place respectively in decent contests.
Of course it's been no secret that following Conservative's arrival at Venn Farm that trainer Joe Tizzard could look to test him over hurdles during the summer months too, and depending how today goes, that could well be on the cards.
Conservative would become the club's first dual-purpose horse if that was to happen, and it could open up many more opportunities which would be exciting.
WATCH: Conservative | Settling in with Team Tizzard
Raceday update from Joe Tizzard
Conservative has definitely come on for his recent run at Bath, he looks fitter and sharper, but I was still disappointed with the run, he might just be getting a little bit cute with us, and not putting it all in, so I’ve put blinkers on him here, which should help him concentrate. He did travel ok in the last race, before not seeing the race out, so equally he might have just been a gallop short of fitness, or even feeling his wind a little, so he’ll also have his tongue tied here which should help.
The race has split into two divisions and we’re in the second division, against nine rivals, which is better than being in a full field, and he’s also dropping back to a mile, so Callum Hutchinson can go forward on him early, hopefully get him interested. Joe Bradnam did nothing wrong last time, but I just wanted a jockey with a little bit more experience whilst still being able to claim, three pounds in this case.
Whatever happens on Sunday we’ll be schooling him over hurdles, as he wasn’t switched to me just to do the same thing and run on the flat every few weeks. He’s already popped over a few poles at home, nothing serious, but just something different for him, and so while we hope he’ll show a bit more in this run, his future will be over hurdles soon enough.
Conservative's Owners for the Day
As winners of the Owner for the Day competition, 10 lucky Coral Racing Club members have been given the chance to enjoy an exclusive owners experience for Conservative's run at Bath this afternoon.
Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Bath Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Sycamore and the Joe Tizzard team, plus get to head into the parade ring before the race begins to be amongst all the other owners, trainers and jockeys. And last but by no means least, each winner will get to take home an equal 10% split of any prize money won by Conservative.
Today's Class 6 contest is worth £5,700 in total, with the winner set to scoop £2,983.38 for their lucky owners.
2nd: £1,399.92 | 3rd: £699.39 | 4th:£349.98 | 5th: £174.42
Trainer and jockey form
Joe Tizzard has had a quiet couple of weeks but landed a timely winner earlier in the week over hurdles with Bertie Wooster. So far this year Joe has only had four runners on the flat, including one winner (25% SR).
Callum Hutchinson is a very experienced young jockey even though he's still an apprentice, and he's no stranger to riding at Bath with 71 runs under his belt, including five winners and eight placed efforts. Today will be Callum's second ever ride for Joe.
Racing Post | Spotlight Comment
"HAVANA GOLDRUSH beat Ravenglass by two lengths when setting a fierce pace over C&D last time and he now has a 5lb higher rating to contend with. The son of Havana Gold remains on a workable mark, though, and looks the one to beat, with his main threat possibly King Of Speed, who has been expensive to follow recently but is likely to go well after his second over track and trip. Love Your Work is respected after his third at Thirsk."
Today's opposition
- Havana Goldrush heads the betting after scoring impressively over course and distance nine days ago, by two lengths from Ravenglass, who also competes here today.
- King Of Speed has finished second a remarkable four times in a row since winning at Wolverhampton in February. Billy Loughnane retains the ride for trainer David Loughnane.
- Love Your Work carries top weight in today's contest off a mark of 61. He's finished third in his last two contests, including over a mile at Thirsk last time out. Rossa Ryan takes the reins for the first time.
17:35 BATH – LATEST BETTING HERE
We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 17:35 to watch Conservative's next run for the club.