A RENOWNED trainer is tipped to make his return to Cartmel Races this weekend.

Colin Tizzard, whose West Country yard has been one of the success stories of recent seasons with the likes of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River, Cue Card and Thistlecrack.

He is being sorely tempted by the prize money on offer for the second leg of this weekend’s meeting on Sunday with entries in both the £40,000 Oakmere Homes Handicap Chase and the £40,000 Champagne Louis Roederer Handicap Hurdle.

“I have not had runners at Cartmel for a very long time, though the last time I did was on a Bank Holiday Monday and I sent three horses and had two winners” said the trainer.

Sizing Platinum, a good second in a valuable listed handicap chase at Ayr’s Scottish National meeting last month, is entered for the Oakmere Homes race along with the smart Viconte De Noyer, who was pulled up at the Cheltenham Festival, but has shown his true colours with placed efforts at Uttoxeter and Newton Abbot.

And in the Champagne Louis Roederer Handicap Hurdle, Solatentif is pencilled in to run after decent efforts at Aintree’s Grand National meeting and Ludlow this year. All three horses are owned by Ann and Alan Potts, who are great supporters of the Tizzard team

Tizzard is currently at the Sales in Ireland, he will not make a final decision until later in the week, but conceded: “It is very good prize money and that is what is tempting me and when racecourses make such an effort they deserve support.”

Sunday’s meeting is the second stage of this weekend’s Cartmel fixtures, which get under way on Friday with a seven race card followed by a live performance by Boyzone.