Great Yorkshire show expected from The Changing Man

The Changing Man is out to claim what trainer Joe Tizzard thinks would be a “deserved” victory in the Virgin Bet Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster on Saturday.

The eight-year-old has been runner-up in his last two outings, coming home behind horses trained by Venetia Williams in valuable staying handicaps on both occasions.

He was beaten a length and a quarter by reopposing Frero Banbou in the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle in November, and before Christmas he was second again in the Howden Silver Cup at Ascot when just half a length behind Victtorino.

Both performances were encouraging and he now turns his attention to Town Moor, where he looks to win for the first time over fences and take a top prize in excess of £56,000.

“He’s in lovely form, he’s having a cracking season, he’s just been pipped a couple of times by Venetia’s horses,” said Tizzard.

“He’s putting in solid performances and improving with every run, he really deserves to win one of these big ones.

“There’s no reason why Doncaster won’t suit him, so we’re hoping for another big run.

“He’s got novice options later on, but he’s been ultra competitive in huge handicaps and it just hasn’t swung his way yet – his time will come and he’s losing nothing in defeat.”

Another key contender is Emma Lavelle’s Tightenourbelts, who has won his two most recent starts.

After a confidence-boosting run over hurdles to kick off the term, he reverted to fences and won an Exeter event before cantering home 13 lengths ahead at Ludlow last time.

“We’re really happy with how he is, he’s done everything right since he went to Ludlow and this was very much the plan thereafter,” Lavelle said.

“Ideally some of the rain will stay away, but we are where we are with that. I’m really happy with how he is and I’m happy we’re going to Doncaster on that kind of ground instead of somewhere like Chepstow where it’s just a lot deeper.

“I’m really pleased with him, it’s a very competitive handicap but we’ll see what gives.

“He certainly knows where his feet are, he schooled beautifully the other morning. Last year he just lost his confidence and it took me a bit of time to get it back.

“He seems to be jumping the way we want him to now and he’s very versatile, he doesn’t seem to care if he’s going right- or left-handed. He’s just a very likeable horse.”

Another leading name is the Anthony Honeyball-trained Forward Plan, who was second by just a nose in this race last year, and has a fine record at the South Yorkshire track.

“I think the one slight concern was maybe the ground would deteriorate quite a lot, but it looks like there will be no excuses for us and nice ground,” said Honeyball.

“He ran a nice race back there in December which was pretty similar to last season. He seems to be in good form and we’re happy with him at home.

“We would have loved to have continued the association of Ben Godfrey riding him but he’s not a big horse and we felt with 11st 9lb on his back, we kind of had to use Chad Bament to claim 10lb off him.

“Chad’s had a few rides in good races this season and has picked up some experience, so hopefully it is worth the punt to take 10lb off which would obviously put him in the mix if you take that into account.”

Fiona Needham’s Cheltenham Festival Hunter Chase winner Sine Nomine also looks to get back on track after failing to complete in her last two starts.