Box-office names primed to ensure Team Tizzard enjoy another crack season

Three or four years ago Colin Tizzard was a dairy farmer who trained racehorses, trained a few good ones too. In the last two years he has evolved into a trainer with one of the best yards in Britain, with horses the envy of everyone with a licence. The cows are probably doing pretty well too.

Last season Tizzard ranked third in the trainers' table, setting personal records for winners and prize-money through the exploits of King George winner Thistlecrack and runner-up Cue Card, Hennessy and Welsh National winner Native River, two-mile ace Fox Norton and star novices Finian's Oscar and Pingshou.

Where there is a big race, there is usually a Tizzard-trained contender with a big chance, and such is the firepower at his still newish complex in the hills above Milborne Port that few would bet against him doing better yet this campaign.