Colin Tizzard sends out final runners at Chepstow to end illustrious career

Reserve Tank's third-placed finish at Chepstow marked the final runner in the illustrious career of Colin Tizzard as the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning-trainer hands over the licence to his son Joe.

Tizzard, 66, saddled his final two runners at the evening meeting with L'Air Du Vent, who fittingly ran in the Brocade Racing silks worn by 2018 Gold Cup winner Native River, pulled up by Harry Cobden in an earlier handicap chase.

Joe Tizzard said: "We’ve had a lot of fun here at Chepstow and we like to run our horses here. They offered Dad a nice night out and he said no I don’t want all that. He doesn’t like being made a fuss of, and he tells them nothing’s going to change at home.

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"The dynamics won’t change at all, I’ve been doing a lot of it for the last year anyway, and Dad’s there when I need him. He just doesn’t have to answer the phone.

Colin Tizzard with his Gold Cup winner Native RiverCredit: Edward Whitaker

"I’ve served my 42-year apprenticeship and it’s just going to be Joe Tizzard on the licence. That will change straight away and we’ll have our first runners next weekend I’d imagine."

Tizzard snr was a former dairy farmer and began operating with a full licence in 1998, achieving his first double-digit haul during the 2000-01 season.

Tizzard trained 32 Grade 1 winners including Cue Card, who landed the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 to kickstart an incredible career.

Eight more top-level triumphs followed for the stable star who landed three Betfair Chases and the King George VI Chase in 2015, a race that Tizzard also won in 2016 with Thistlecrack.

The success was a remarkable training performance given it was just Thistlecrack's fourth start over fences and the chaser became one of the leading lights at Venn Farm, having won the previous season's Stayers' Hurdle.

Tizzard's operation endured a trying start to 2021-22 season but bounced back to winning ways to achieve his third-best tally of 62 winners.

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