Two options available for Gold Cup contender Lostintranslation

LOSTINTRANSLATION is back in full health and on course for another run before bidding again to win the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup next month.

Colin Tizzard’s nine-year-old was third in the Festival showpiece last season but has run poorly in his two appearances this term.

He was found to have burst a blood vessel when pulled up in Kempton’s King George VI Chase on Boxing Day when the frontrunning Frodon prevailed from Waiting Patiently.

Tizzard’s son and assistant Joe reports, however, that the dual Grade One winner has recovered well and will run this month – either in Newbury’s Denman Chase or the Ascot Chase.

“In the last couple of weeks the horses have been performing to their standard without winning, so it’s nice to get one on the board with Rose Of Arcadia today,” he said after the stable recorded its first winner of 2021 when Rose Of Arcadia prevailed at Wincanton under Jonjo O’Neill junior.

Lostintranslation is among a number of horses who have performed below expectations for the yard this season.

Tizzard said: “We found a couple of things wrong with them –something that was going round in the air, and their mineral levels weren’t quite right – but I do think we are heading in the right direction.

“Hopefully, this is the start of better things for us.

“Lostintranslation had a little bleed in the King George but is in good nick now. He will go for the Denman Chase, all being well – and if we think the ground isn’t suitable, then we would wait for the trial at Ascot.”

Native River, hero of the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, will run in tomorrow’s rescheduled Cotswold Chase at Sandown – while The Big Breakaway will be in action the same day in Wetherby’s William Hill Towton Novices’ Chase, as long as that race is given the go-ahead after an inspection of the course this morning.

“Native River is all set for Sandown,” said Tizzard.

“He’s in lovely form, and I don’t see why the track won’t suit him.

“It’s fantastic that we’re looking at running because Newbury (the Denman Chase) would have been closer to the Gold Cup than ideal.

“The Big Breakaway has, I feel, learned a lot from his run at Kempton (second in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase) and has come out of it well.

“He certainly had to show he could jump, and we’ve declared him for Wetherby on Saturday.”

Should Wetherby’s chases fall to the weather, however, the Tizzards have a contingency in place.

“In that case, he would divert to the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot in two weeks,” added Tizzard.

“We would like to give him another (run) ahead of the Festival.”

A second shot at the Randox Grand National remains the ultimate aim for 2019 runner-up Magic Of Light.

The 10-year-old was last seen finishing eight lengths behind Dan Skelton’s Roksana in the Grade Two Warfield Mares’ Hurdle at Ascot on January 23.

Jessica Harrington’s runner had won the two previous renewals of the race, but found Skelton’s highly-regarded mare too good and was passed after the last hurdle having led throughout.

Though there are no appearances pencilled in for the meantime, Harrington is clear on the ultimate aim for the mare this season.

“We’ve no idea where we’ll go next, none at all,” she said.

“But the Grand National is the aim, so we’ll just work our way towards that.”

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.