But the Riverton trainer is not turning up to the $100,000 Winter Cup at Riccarton tomorrow hoping Keep The Courage is competitive - he thinks the 5yr-old is a good chance.
And he is right.
The group 3 1600m is traditionally an open race and Tyler was pleased just to get Keep The Courage into the field from 17th on the rankings, but now he is there, a win is the target.
''I actually rang the club up to see how many they were going to start, and up until last week, they didn't know whether they were going to be starting 16 or 18 so I guess if we started 16, we'd be [first] on the ballot.
"I'm privileged to have a horse in the race and one's that's good enough to be competitive.''
When you hear Tyler talk about Keep The Courage's chances, you cannot help but agree.
''He's been working huge. He's had two starts on the track in the heavy for two wins, he's got a really good draw, so to be honest I couldn't be more happy with him.''
''He's just one of those horses that loves to be there - a happy horse that never has a bad day. They're hard to get.''
Tyler's partner, jockey Rebecca Black, will pair up with all five of Tyler's runners at Riccarton tomorrow.
Tyler has already conjured up the ideal scenario for the son of Keeper, who has won three and placed twice in his five starts since joining Tyler's stable earlier this year.
''He won't be getting hunted out [of the gates] but I'd like to be midfield on the fence and be patient. I reckon they'll fan out and leave plenty of gaps.''
Keep The Courage's last run was a strong finish for second at Timaru on July 12, and Tyler has been conscious not to work him too hard since.
''He's just been ticking over nicely. He likes to go into his races a little bit on the fresh side, so he's certainly that at the moment.''
Keep The Courage might have Tyler smiling, but he is just as keen to see how Timy Tyler goes in the 3yr-old 1250m.
The No Excuse Needed colt won on debut at Gore in late May before leading up at Oamaru on July 21 and finishing third behind Orovela.
''He's never been to the trials. It's only the second run he's ever had so he's lacking a lot of experience,'' Tyler said.
''He was a bit fresh that day too, as we didn't want him primed until this week, to be honest, because he's quite a highly strung horse.
''He's a pretty exciting horse - I wouldn't mind a few of these ones. He's well above average.''
Prime Hit (race 6) and Saragarhi (race 7) will both enjoy the heavy track and Tyler said Prime Hit had excuses for his ninth at Oamaru.
''When I got home, there was a bit of heat in his foot and a bit of a bruised sole, but he's certainly over that. He's been working really good and he probably needs a bit of cut in the track.''
Saragarhi has a winning record on the track to fall back on and Tyler described him as ''better than a runner's chance''. Heza Kool Kat (race 9) will be hoping for even more rain on the day and a deep track.
