Can Lostintranslation deliver a second Gold Cup for Tizzard?

Colin Tizzard is one of the most renowned figures in the National Hunt having trained the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River among other stars of the sport. Based in the south-west of England, Tizzard continues to cultivate horses of the highest calibre to compete in jumps racing, and the 2021/22 season is no different. He will be targeting further success at Cheltenham in 2022 with his charge Lostintranslation, who will have redemption on his agenda in the Gold Cup after a disappointing outing in 2021 at his second attempt at glory.

Plenty of competition at Cheltenham

Lostintranslation is backed at 25/1 in the odds on horse racing to win the Gold Cup, and it will take a fine performance from Tizzard’s charge to triumph given the quality the other horses in the running, notably A Plus Tard, Chantry House and the reigning champion Minella Indo. A look at the free horse racing tips for Cheltenham will tell you that A Plus Tard is the leading contender for the crown, especially considering his outing in the Betfair Chase where he dominated the rest of the field. It is going to take a flawless performance from Lostintranslation at Cheltenham to win the Gold Cup for Tizzard for a second time.

Tizzard’s charge has had two previous attempts at the Gold Cup. In his first run in 2020, Lostintranslation was solid on the course and put forward a run for the crown, only to lose out down the stretch to Al Boum Photo, who claimed his second title in a row as described by the Guardian.com. He finished in third place with Robbie Power in the saddle, only one-and-a-half lengths behind the winner. The result was pleasing for Tizzard and a potential building block for a second run 2021, with the potential of emulating his stable-mate Native River, who finished third in 2017 before triumphing a year later.

"First race" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06

However, it was not the case, as the bay gelding struggled for form throughout the 2020/21 season. He failed to perform in the major races before Cheltenham, and his price for the Gold Cup at 40/1 reflected the confidence in the horse. There was no run to the finish for Lostintranslation on this occasion as Power opted to pull him two fences from the end of the contest after a stuttering display. In the off-season, Tizzard sent his charge in for wind surgery for the second time of his career in the hope of restoring his form and resolving his issues of the last campaign.

It appeared to work wonders in his first race of the 2021/22 season at Ascot in the Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase as told by the Mirror.co.uk. The nine-year-old was backed at 4/1 to win the race and was on point from the off to finish four lengths ahead of a talented field that included a former foe Defi du Seuil . Tizzard’s charge does have momentum to take forward into the campaign unlike last season, but whether he can muster a strong enough performance to beat out the elite horses in the National Hunt is unlikely. However, he could be worth an each-way bet should he compete at the Gold Cup given his history in the event and the calibre of his trainer.

Main image: "Cheltenham Gold Cup" (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Carine06