Cows on way out as cream rises to top at Venn Farm

For a yard set in the jumping heartland of Dorset's Blackmore Vale, last season represented the pinnacle of achievement. Staying chasers are the essence of Venn Farm Stables and Native River's Cheltenham Gold Cup success took the yard to new heights, which the Tizzards – Colin, son Joe and daughter Kim – will be seeking to build upon this term. The remainder of the family's dairy herd are set to go to the sales and now every last ounce of energy will go into preparing a powerful team for the biggest prizes.

"We're expected to have big winners now and we expect to have them ourselves," says the trainer. "Last season couldn't have gone much better, but the key is that these good horses don't last forever – even Cue Card has gone – and you're always looking for the next one, the good young horses coming through. I think we're in good shape there.

"We've never had a team of novice chasers like the one we've got this season, it's our best bunch ever by a long way and the future is very exciting. Elixir De Nutz and Eldorado Allen could be top novice hurdlers as well, and we have plenty of nice bumper horses that we haven't done a lot with yet, and strength across the board.