More room at the Tizzard inn as new barn takes shape

After his best season, Colin Tizzard is gearing up for an assault on the jumps trainers' title by building a new barn to house up to another 20 horses.

A string of big-race successes left Tizzard third in the championship, with a new best total of 57 British winners. He also passed the £2 million mark in total prize-money, a feat made all the more impressive when compared to the size of the teams perennial title contenders Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson boast.

However, a new 150x80ft barn will help create space to add more horses, with the Tizzard team set to reach three figures.

Son and assistant Joe Tizzard said on Wednesday: "We're putting up another 42 stables to allow for more horses and to free up some space. When Mr and Mrs Potts joined the yard last year we became pretty full."

The barn is due to be finished towards the end of next month, while two new horse-walkers and large wash-off area will also be added to the Tizzards' Dorset yard, as the team bid to keep progressing.

Jumps trainers' championship 2016-2017

Nicky Henderson £2,846,487

Paul Nicholls £2,529,250

Colin Tizzard £2,041,055

Nigel Twiston-Davies £1,582,656

Philip Hobbs £1,503,945

Joe Tizzard added: "We had around 85 horses last year, and this will allow us to have another 15 to 20. It was a brilliant season. We may be behind Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls numerically, but a lot of our good horses performed well and we've got a lot of lovely young horses.

"A lot of our existing owners are purchasing again. We've never turned a horse away before and we're not about to do so now."

Among the stars of last season, when the yard won nine Grade 1s, was Cue Card, who won the Betfair Chase and Ascot Chase, and he rejoined the yard this week having had a summer break.

Tizzard also reported King George VI Chase winner Thistlecrack, absent since runner-up to Many Clouds at Cheltenham in January, to be in good fettle.

Colin Tizzard and Thistlecrack: star chaser on course to return to action at ChristmasCredit: Edward Whitaker

He said: "He's out in a field at home with his owners, and we couldn't be more pleased with him. He's on schedule to return to action at Christmas."

It is not just the horses who will soon be back in action, as Tizzard joked: "Dad said if it wasn't for the barn going up he'd be bored. He's had his break now and is ready to go."