Tizzard plans for Oscar and Fox Norton unconfirmed after death of Potts

Colin Tizzard was unable to say on Wednesday whether the horses he trains for Alan Potts, who died this week, would be running at Cheltenham this weekend.

Exciting novice chaser Finian's Oscar, who has entries on Friday and Sunday, Queen Mother Champion Chase runner-up Fox Norton, who is a hot favourite to repeat last year's win in Sunday's Shloer Chase, and promising novice hurdler Vision Des Flos head no fewer than 17 entries made by Tizzard on behalf of Ann & Alan Potts Limited over the three-day meeting.

Finian's Oscar: set to run at Cheltenham on FridayCredit: Mark Cranham

There would be a considerable shake-up in the markets, many of which have already been formed, if it were decided they should not run, but Tizzard is understandably reluctant to press the issue with the Potts family in the circumstances.

Tizzard said: "I don't know yet. I thought I should give it 24 hours before I asked."

At Clonmel on Thursday the Pottses' famous green, yellow and red silks will be carried for the first time since Alan Potts' death at the age of 80, with the Mouse Morris-trained Beyond The Law and the Jessica Harrington-trained Magic Of Light contesting separate races.

Viconte Du Noyer is the Potts-owned horse in Saturday's big race at Cheltenham, the BetVictor Gold Cup, for which the Alan Fleming-trained Tully East is second favourite at 8-1 in a race in which the Irish have a poor record.

The County Kildare-based Fleming said on Wednesday: "Tully East is all set for Saturday. We were very pleased with his first run of the season over hurdles at Punchestown last month, when he finished fourth, and he's been in good form since.

"He did us proud in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase at the festival in March, so we know he handles the track and the trip. Denis [O'Regan] rides and we're looking forward to it. He's a good traveller in his races and in the back of the lorry. Nothing seems to faze him."

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