Conservative makes his handicap debut over hurdles this afternoon in the Class 5 Handicap Hurdle (16:50) over two miles, four and a half furlongs at Plumpton.

Read 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 is set to make his handicap debut under National Hunt rules this afternoon, as he heads to Plumpton for his fourth run over hurdles. He made his first start over obstacles in July following two runs on the flat at Bath after making the move to Joe Tizzard's yard from Scott Dixon. That was a big learning experience for our five-year-old, but he showed us plenty enough to believe he could have a future over hurdles after finishing sixth in a two mile novice hurdle race at Worcester. 

Eight days later, Joe Tizzard ran Conservative at Uttoxeter in another two mile novice contest and despite being sent off at a big enough price of 33/1, he stayed on well in the latter stages to improve on his debut to finish fifth of the twelve horses that went to post. After that effort, Joe was keen to point out how Conservative "is sharpening up his jumping all the time".


Joe Tizzard at his Venn Farm Stables in Dorset

In both of Conservative's first two starts over hurdles, he stayed on well in the latter stages despite hitting a flat spot not long after the half way mark and struggling to keep up with the pace of the front runners. With that in mind, Joe Tizzard decided to step our gelding up in trip for his final start before being given a handicap mark, in which he went one better again by finishing in fourth place.

Read what Joe Tizzard had to say after Conservative received his opening handicap mark:

"We’ve been given an opening handicap mark of 91. I was expecting something between 90 and 95, so that looks very fair, and hopefully will be a nice starting point for him in handicaps. Brendan [Powell] and I both think he’s capable of winning the right race on what he’s shown us so far.

He’s well and ready to run, but realistically, the first opportunity that I like the look of for him is at Plumpton on Sunday 22nd September. It's a 0-100 handicap hurdle over two and a half miles, and I think the course will suit him very well, as will the extra couple of furlongs, and so it's worth waiting a few weeks for this race."

Raceday message from Joe:

"We head to Plumpton for Conservative’s first run in a handicap, and I do think his opening handicap mark of 91 is about right, based on his three runs over hurdles. He definitely showed signs of improvement through those runs, and we always felt it was now, in handicaps, that he would have his best chances.

We’ve put blinkers on him as he’d just started to look around when we were schooling him at home, and when we worked with them on, it really seemed to sharpen him up and keep him interested.
We want to ride him positively here, and Brendan [Powell] will look to be up with the pace early on.

It’s a competitive little race but I do think this fellow has a chance of this current mark, and I’ll be disappointed if he’s not there or thereabouts in the first three."

Chris Dixon, Racing TV Analyst, shares his thoughts on Conservative and who his main rivals are likely to be this afternoon.

Conservative moves into handicap company for the first time over hurdles in this low-level contest on ground that should suit. He’s been rated on the form of his fifth at Uttoxeter in July, a race that has worked out well enough with the second and fourth both winning a novice on their next start, but the handicapper doesn’t appear to have taken any chances with Conservative giving him an opening mark of 91. He’ll need to progress to defy that rating but does have blinkers on for the first time over hurdles and steps up in trip, though he hasn’t really being shaping like a horse who would improve for a longer distance.

Greatness Awaits looks the horse to beat after two good runs in defeat since winning at this track in June and the form of that latest second-place behind an improving winner Callin Baton Rouge at Market Rasen has been franked by the winner easily defying a 10lbs rise in the ratings to bring up a hattrick on his next start. The trip is also an unknown for Glory Awaits but he looks likely to get home under these conditions.

Of the others it’s worth keeping an eye on Sami Bear who probably needed the run when back from a couple of months off over an inadequate trip at Fontwell last month and will be suited by the return to this longer trip. He’s on a fair mark and the application of cheek pieces could help see him back in form. The Dark Edge improved when switched to handicap company and better ground last time so still has potential to progress.

Trainer and Jockey Statistics

Joe Tizzard has won with two of the three horses he's sent out in the last fortnight, both of which were at Newton Abbot. He's been plotting along nicely during the summer months too, with eight winners from the 53 runners he's sent out, and he's also scored with the only runner he's sent to Plumpton this season so far. In his career, he's had 11 winners at the East Sussex track, from the 53 runners he's sent there (21% strike-rate).

Brendan Powell has picked up four rides in the last fortnight, winning once and finishing second another time. Brendan has seen relative success at Plumpton throughout his riding career so far, winning on 24 occasions in the 255 rides he's had there.

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 Plumpton this afternoon.

Each winner, along with a guest of their choosing, will receive free entry to Plumpton Racecourse, including exclusive access to Owners & Trainers areas. They'll have the opportunity to meet Conservative 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.

Prize Money

Today's Class 5 contest is worth £7,250 in total, with the winner set to scoop £3,829 for their lucky owners.

2nd: £1,761 | 3rd: £880 | 4th: £440 | 5th: £219

    PLUMPTON 16:50 – LATEST BETTING HERE    

We hope you enjoyed reading today's Raceday LIVE Preview. Don't forget to tune in just before 16:50 to watch Conservative's next run for the club live on the Coral Sports app.