DORSET will have 17 runners at the Cheltenham Festival as the hugely popular meeting returns this afternoon from 1.30pm.

Coilin Tizzard, based in Milborne Port, is responsible for 12 of those, with Higher Crockermoor’s Harry Fry fielded four runners.

The other is Honeysuckle, one of the stars of the Festival, who was bred by Glanvilles Stud outside of Sherborne.

Here, we take you through the Dorset contingent.

JPR One – Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle – Colin Tizzard (today, 1.30pm) – 125/1

OPENING the Festival for Tizzard is JPR One, a massive outsider for this race at 125/1.

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This race is seen as a learning curve for the youngster but hopes are high for the future as Tizzard’s son and assistant Joe explains to the Jockey Club.

“He has just got to make sure he doesn’t over-race. In a Supreme he will be able to settle in and get covered up. It will give him a really nice education. Anything he achieves he will be a bonus.”

War Lord – Arkle Chase – Colin Tizzard (today, 2.10pm) – 50/1

WAR Lord is up next and again is priced towards the bottom of the bookies’ list at 50/1.

Tizzard said: “He has had a hell of a season and has done absolutely nothing wrong. There is not going to be stacks of runners. I see no reason why he couldn’t sneak a place in it.”

Oscar Elite & Lostintranslation – Ultima Handicap Chase – Colin Tizzard (today, 2.50pm) – 20/1 & 25/1

OSCAR Elite has been tipped as a potential winner of this race, while old warrior Lostintranslation provides Tizzard with another option.

On Lostintranslation, Tizzard said: “He wouldn’t want it worse than good to soft simple as that.

“If you go back to his form on decent ground at Ascot in the autumn there is no reason he couldn’t run well in an Ultima.”

Honeysuckle – Champion Hurdle – bred by Glanvilles Stud (today, 3.30pm) – 8/13

BLOSSOMING in Dorset throughout her early years, Honeysuckle last year won the Champion Hurdle with Rachael Blackmore on board.

The mare is a heavy 8/13 favourite to take a second successive victory.

Scarface – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle – Colin Tizzard (tomorrow, 1.30pm) – 66/1

ANOTHER runner who is set to gain plenty of experience from the hallowed Cheltenham turf, priced at a large 66/1.

Tizzard said: “He is a horse that if you said to me at the start of the season would be a Cheltenham horse I would have laughed at you.

“He has just improved with every single run. He is a big price but I could see him finishing sixth or seventh and learning loads from being in there.”

Amarillo Sky & Elixir De Nutz – Grand Annual Chase – Colin Tizzard (tomorrow, 4.50pm) – 10/1 & 18/1

TWO of the Tizzards’ best shots at victory at Cheltenham, who have somewhat flown under the radar.

Amarillo Sky is rated as “an improving horse” and “in a good place with himself” by Joe Tizzard, who was more cautious with Elixir De Nutz, adding: “His legs are good and it will be interesting to see how he goes.”

If The Cap Fits – Pertemps Handicap Hurdle – Harry Fry (Thursday, 2.10pm) – 25/1

HARRY Fry gets his Cheltenham under way with the intriguing chance of If The Cap Fits, who finished ninth in the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival.

Eldorado Allen – Ryanair Chase – Colin Tizzard (Thursday, 2.50pm) – 40/1

ELDORADO Allen is rated as one of the Tizzards’ best assets but will find the going difficult in a high-quality Ryanair Chase line-up.

Joe Tizzard said: “Eldorado Allen is the highest-rated one going into it now off the back of winning the Denman and he would have to have a competitive each-way chance.”

Other contenders on Thursday for Tizzard include Slate House (4.10pm), priced at 50/1 and Elegant Escape (5.30pm).

Love Envoi & Lady Adare – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle – Harry Fry (Thursday, 4.50pm) – 12/1 & 18/1

LOVE Envoi and Lady Adare are arguably Fry’s best hopes at Cheltenham, although Love Envoi appears the better shout of the two.

Love Envoi remains unbeaten and won at Sandown last month, a price of 12/1 sure to attract the money.

Lady Adare is also unbeaten and won by 16 lengths in her latest run at Taunton in February.

Boothill – McCoy Contractors County Hurdle – Harry Fry (Friday, 2.10pm) – 25/1

DORSET has no runners in the showpiece race, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, despite Tizzard’s Fiddlerontheroof flirting with an entry.

Instead, two runners take to the turf on Gold Cup day as Fry’s Boothill will be looking to gain entry in a bumper County Hurdle, priced at 25/1.

Reserve Tank – Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle – Colin Tizzard (Friday, 5.30pm) – 100/1

The last of the 17 Dorset runners Reserve Tank is a whopping 100/1 to win the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle for Tizzard.

Reserve Tank has failed to finish three of his past four races but is a better prospect than his price indicates, having secured 10 career wins.