Joe Tizzard: “Lostintranslation should be in fantastic shape for the Gold Cup”

The latest insight from the Tizzard stables in the build-up to Cheltenham

We’ve got 28 runners going to Cheltenham and we’re working really hard now to get them all in the best shape for the festival.

The ground will dictate where a lot of them run and that can change very quickly. There is plenty of rain forecast in the short term but Cheltenham can dry out so fast. We want to give ourselves the best chance of having winners so have given ourselves as many options as we can.

We’ll be keeping an eye on it and won’t make the final decisions until the weekend before.

Lostintranslation

He had a real good spin round this week and is starting to look a million dollars at home. We’ve worked hard to get him in good shape leading up towards Cheltenham and he is really starting to catch the eye now.

He will go for another gallop next week to freshen him up again. We couldn’t be happier with him and he should be in fantastic shape in three weeks for the Gold Cup. 

Fiddlerontheroof

Fiddlerontheroof is in really good form and is firmly on target for the Supreme. He had a racecourse gallop this week and looked fantastic. He loves the soft ground so the rain is really helping him and any more forecast would play right into his strengths.

Master Debonair

Master Debonair didn’t jump well last weekend and didn’t get home in the end. He did travel well through the race though and the form of the race could well turn out to be very strong with Sporting John and also the second-placed horse Pipesmoker was only beaten by two lengths by Chantry House at Cheltenham the time before.

There isn’t anything to worry about from the race but we will make sure he is 100% and decide the weekend before if he is ready for Cheltenham because the heavy ground at Ascot certainly would have taken a lot out of him.

We’ll see how he works between now and the festival but if he isn’t ready he will go straight onto Aintree.

The Big Breakaway

He had a racecourse gallop this week too and looked absolutely fantastic. He is a particularly clean winded horse and has so much ability. All roads are leading towards the Ballymore, although he is entered in the Albert Bartlett too.

Slate House

The first time we stepped him up to 3 miles he won but he also has good form over shorter distances and he has a couple of options for the festival. Again, we will be guided by the ground and we want to give him the best chance of winning. 

Whichever routes our horses go down there will be a couple that will clash and nothing is straight-forward.

Copperhead

It was a smashing performance from Copperhead last week and he has just kept improving with every run. He is our second-best novice on ratings, behind only Slate House, and we haven’t yet decided which race he will run in at Cheltenham.

He is definitely capable of winning a race like the RSA if he runs to his highest level but a longer trip could suit him better so we will have to have a real think about it.

Harry Senior

Harry Senior has improved all season and the way Sporting John won at Ascot really boosts his form too. He was a Grade Two winner last time out and he just kept on galloping right up to the line.

The ground will be a factor for him as we know that Cheltenham can dry out very quickly so that could well define where he runs. He is in great form though and should have a good chance wherever he does go.

Eldorado Allen

He didn’t really enjoy the really heavy ground at Sandown recently but he can run a big race in a handicap at the festival. A fast run County hurdle could really suit him and that’s the route we are looking down at the moment.

Kilbricken Storm

Kilbricken Storm qualified for the Pertemps with his run last week, just sneaking in at the bottom. He’s shown some nice form this season and he looks well handicapped and should have a chance.

Joe