Colin Tizzard's four most memorable moments as a trainer

In a remarkable career that has seen him transform from a dairy farmer with a few horses to winning 32 Grade 1s, Colin Tizzard has enjoyed some memorable days. Here are four of the best.

Cue Card – Betfair Chase, Haydock 2016

No horse did more for Tizzard as a trainer than Cue Card. He put him on the map from his Champion Bumper win on just his second start in 2010 all the way through an incredible career.

His third Betfair Chase success was, however, perhaps his most emotional victory. His King George win the previous season had been followed by a fall in Don Cossack's Gold Cup, a win at Aintree, a fourth at Punchestown and a below-par third in the Charlie Hall on his seasonal return.

Aged ten, he went to Haydock to take on Coneygree and Silviniaco Conti and galloped them into the ground to win by 15 lengths and set up a potential £1 million bonus. For the Tizzards, Cue Card really was a horse in a million.

Paddy Brennan returns victorious after Cue Card's memorable third success in the Betfair ChaseCredit: Edward Whitaker

Native River – Cheltenham Gold Cup, Cheltenham 2018

There is no more prestigious prize than the Gold Cup and, having been bang in contention twice with Cue Card, who had fallen in the race the previous two years, Tizzard finally landed jump racing's premier event with Native River in 2018.

The previous year the Welsh National winner had come up short when third behind Sizing John. He then had an interrupted campaign that only began a month earlier in the Denman Chase, but what a performance he produced on the big day itself, going eye to eye with Might Bite for 3m2½f of everything jump racing should be.

When Might Bite came alongside him off the home turn, it looked like Native River's bold bid was going to come up short, but this stout stayer plundered depths most horses simply do not have and went again. It was a wonderful performance.

Thistlecrack – King George, Kempton 2016

Thistlecrack's King George win is perhaps the most remarkable training performance on the list.

For two seasons he was untouchable, dominating the staying hurdle division and winning the 2016 World Hurdle by seven lengths on the bridle before then going novice chasing and winning the King George on just his fourth start over fences.

It was an incredible piece of training and reflective of Tizzard's general attitude. Always willing to take on a challenge, he knew the horse was six days away from turning nine and, most importantly, had the ability. So he set about fast-tracking his education over fences and the result was one of the most staggering wins in the race's history as he had a field containing two-time winner Silviniaco Conti and defending champion Cue Card beaten turning in.

Two of a kind: Tizzard with stable stars Cue Card (left) and ThistlecrackCredit: Edward Whitaker

Fox Norton - Champion Chase, Punchestown 2017

Fox Norton was a very good horse when he arrived at the Tizzards from Neil Mulholland, but he became a better one for the Dorset yard.

He was second, beaten a head, in Special Tiara's Champion Chase, but followed it up with a superb six-length win at Aintree and a length and three-quarter success at Punchestown over the legendary Un De Sceaux.

Tizzard had always been associated with classy staying types, but just as with Cue Card early in his career, he proved just as able with horses with the speed and class to win over the minimum.

Colin Tizzard career details

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