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

The latest insight from the Tizzard stables in the build-upto Cheltenham

We’vegot 28 runners going to Cheltenham and we’re working really hard now to getthem all in the best shape for the festival.

The ground will dictate where alot of them run and that can change very quickly. There is plenty of rainforecast in the short term but Cheltenham can dry out so fast. We want to giveourselves the best chance of having winners so have given ourselves as manyoptions as we can.

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

Lostintranslation

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

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

Fiddlerontheroof

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

Master Debonair

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

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

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

The Big Breakaway

He had a racecourse gallop thisweek too and looked absolutely fantastic. He is a particularly clean windedhorse 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 himup to 3 miles he won but he also has good form over shorter distances and hehas a couple of options for the festival. Again, we will be guided by theground and we want to give him the best chance of winning. 

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

Copperhead

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

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

Harry Senior

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

The ground will be a factor forhim as we know that Cheltenham can dry out very quickly so that could welldefine where he runs. He is in great form though and should have a good chancewherever he does go.

Eldorado Allen

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

Kilbricken Storm

Kilbricken Storm qualified forthe Pertemps with his run last week, just sneaking in at the bottom. He’s shownsome nice form this season and he looks well handicapped and should have achance.

Joe