Tom George has been rubbing shoulders with the top trainers in the land for some 25 years now.

And the Slad handler has enjoyed great success over the years as well, including a couple of winners at the Cheltenham Festival, an event which remains the greatest racing show on earth.

This year’s four-day Festival is just around the corner of course – the action gets under way on Tuesday 10th March – and George, just like every other horseracing enthusiast, can’t wait for that first race at 1.30pm.

“There is an unbelievable atmosphere around the track during every day ¬- something which I think is unique for any sporting event,” said George.

“It is the best horses racing against one another which of course provides the best racing.

“It’s the spectacle as a whole - the best horses taking on one another never disappoints.”

George knows all about beating the very best at Prestbury Park in March with his first success coming with the Jason Maguire-ridden Galileo in the Sun Alliance Novices’ Hurdle in 2002.

But he had to wait another 16 years before chalking up win number two at the showpiece occasion – there were a number of very near misses in between – when Noel Fehily steered 9-1 shot Summerville Boy to victory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Wins in any race on any course are hard to come by but they are even tougher at the home of National Hunt racing where everyone and anyone is striving to be number one.

And George would certainly love to be in the winner’s enclosure again in 2020.

“I think the more you experience success on the big days and in the big races, the more you want to do it again,” he said. “It is very addictive!

“When you train a winner at the Festival everyone remembers it and talks about it - it is the pinnacle of jump racing. A lot of other races easily slip people’s minds.”

George has been a regular in the winner’s enclosure at racecourses all over the country since the 1990s, so what he would consider to be a successful Cheltenham Festival this time around?

“I’ve learned over the years not to get too hyped up going into the Festival as there is nearly always more disappointment than success,” he said. “But I suppose if we could have a few of our Grade 1 horses placed I’d be happy enough.”

And George is particularly hopeful about one of his horses.

“I am really looking forward to Black Op running there this year now we seem to have his jumping sorted, touch wood,” he said. “He is absolutely flying at home and will hopefully go well.”

George’s many supporters will be hoping so too. It’s a full-on period for George around this time of year, of course, so when he gets a bit of spare time, how does he like to relax?

“I often go on a fishing trip once a year which is something I have always loved from a young age,” he said. “I’ve been to Cuba a couple of times bone fishing which is very therapeutic.”