Queen Mother victory would provide Tinkler with emotional success

Tinkler’s only Festival win came in 2006 when the Malton-born rider won the Grand Annual Chase on Greenhope, who was owned by Wilson and her late husband Lynn – the former owner of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club – who was killed in a car crash three years ago.

And, while Tinkler, 25, has come in for the ride because of the non-availability of Nicky Henderson’s stable jockey Barry Geraghty, who remains loyal to last year’s winner Big Zeb, the jockey believes his horse has a good each-way chance.

He will certainly hope to get further than he did five years ago when his mount Dempsey was brought down in a third-fence pile-up that also claimed Kauto Star, the subsequent Gold Cup winner. Right in front of the packed Cheltenham stands, it was a dispiriting experience only rectified by Greenhope’s valour two days later.

Though Tinkler has not ridden French Opera in a race, the eight-year-old is a sound jumper who has won twice at Cheltenham and been placed in the last two renewals of the Grand Annual.

Only the prospect of top weight on Friday has prompted Wilson to take on the likes of Big Zeb and Master Minded.

“I am very excited to have the ride – and I am delighted to be riding for Judy who has been remarkable,” Tinkler told the Yorkshire Post.

“I am on a very solid horse and the key will be to get him settled, and not take on the stablemate Mad Max who will go a terrific gallop. From a going point of view, the drier the ground, the better, and it’s a lovely spare ride to pick up. I hope we can be placed.”

In another vote of confidence from the Henderson stable, Tinkler also expects to partner Molotov, one of the favourites for Friday’s JCB Triumph Hurdle.