Tizzard set to hand training reins to son

Colin Tizzard has confirmed his son and current assistant, Joe, is set to officially take over from him as lead trainer at the family's Venn Farm Stables.

The 65-year-old trainer says he is ready to take a step back from leading the training team and, subject to passing the required modules, his son will take over in time for the start of the 2021/2022 season.

Tizzard expects the transition to go through by the autumn as he admits his son deserves the chance and he is at an age where he is ready to pass the baton on.

He told Sky Sports: “Joe is doing more and more, and deserves to have his name at the top. He deserves to be allowed to go on. He's more than ready, while I'm 65 and don't want to wake up every morning to worry.

“Training's a hard life in which you deal with expectation and disappointment. I've had my time and have a hankering to travel and do things I've never been able to do. As long as Covid doesn't prevent it, I would like to go to see New Zealand.”

Tizzard Snr will hope to bow out on a high and is preparing for what looks like being his last Cheltenham Festival as a lead trainer, where he has a double chance in the Gold Cup with Native River and Lostintranslation.