Exciting Lostintranslation providing a release for many after troubled times

As much as Ross Doyle would be entitled to laud his own contribution in the discovery of jumping’s latest chosen one, he is adamant that the part played by another is not undersold.

Although far more recognisable as a significant individual in the world of the Flat, where his family is inextricably linked with the Richard Hannon operation, the agent has a sideline in part-owning a small handful of National Hunt prospects each year.

Back at the Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in 2015, he alighted upon a three-year-old Flemensfirth who would come to be known as Lostintranslation. Doyle sent him to Willie Codd, the accomplished young point-to-point trainer responsible for nurturing the likes of classy hurdler-chaser Tranquil Sea.

"We bought him originally as a store for €38,000 from Derrygrath, who are very good producers," Doyle explains. "He was a nice, good-looking, good-moving horse, quite raw, and Willie did a fantastic job.

"He ran him in a point-to-point one day and he finished fourth. Willie was disappointed to be beaten ten lengths, his horses just weren’t firing at the time, but he said, 'He’s a nice horse, he jumps great and he gallops."

The purpose of raising Irish pointers is generally to trade and opportunity knocked in the shape of two men from the world of finance; Paul Taylor, a fund manager, and Richard O’Dwyer, a restructuring adviser.

"I was introduced to Paul and Richard through Jim Boyle, the Flat trainer, originally," says Doyle. "They’d been owners with him for a long time on the Flat. Richard said, 'Have you seen a nice jumping horse that’ll suit us and give us a bit of fun, maybe go to Saturday races?'

"So I rang Willie and said, 'Is there anything we can stand over there, a nice horse who can do a job?' And he said Lostintranslation would do a job for somebody. I can’t remember if Willie ever told me how good he thought he was, but he said he was a horse who would give people lots of fun.

Ross Doyle bought Lostintranslation as a young storeCredit: Laura Green

"We agreed a figure, there were a few little things on the vetting and most people would have said they’d leave him, but Jim, who is a vet by trade, looked at the report and advised the lads to take him. The rest is history."

Lostintranslation demonstrated ability over hurdles but it was when embarking upon novice chasing that he truly found his metier, winning both the Dipper and the Grade 1 Mildmay and losing out only to Defi Du Seuil in the JLT at Cheltenham.

By adding determination to his heady mix of precise jumping and controlled aggression in the Betfair Chase, the seven-year-old may now be destined for greatness, not to mention a £1 million Triple Crown bonus, if he can overhaul Cyrname and Clan Des Obeaux et al in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase and then crack the Gold Cup.

"The Tizzards and their team have managed him fantastically well and are a great family to deal with in general," says Doyle. "Then you add Robbie Power to the equation, who is a great fellow and a great rider.

"We’ve never had a horse like him to be involved with over jumps before. Colin and Joe even said at the end of last season, when they start talking about holding him in as high regard as Cue Card, Native River and Thistlecrack, that’s a serious stamp of approval."

There is a poignancy to the story, as the owners revealed movingly in the aftermath of the race. For although a racehorse cannot in any tangible way provide succour for human tragedy, this one does in some part represent the joy of memories and experiences shared.

Doyle explains: "They’ve had a bit of luck with the horse but the whole thing is tinged with sadness - poor old Willie Codd passed away two years ago this January, he’s unfortunately not around to see the fruits of his labour, and Paul very sadly lost his son Charlie, hence he was very emotional at Haydock.

"With Charlie and Willie in the background, Paul and Richard are very aware of that connection. It’s probably very nice but very emotional every time the horse runs for those guys, with the others who aren’t here to see him."

Doyle, whose father Peter has purchased a slew of Classic winners, has National Hunt in his blood through his late grandfather Jack, one of the most celebrated bloodstock agents of all with a connection to several chasing icons.

"He bought Mill House out of a field, and Silver Buck as a store and Peter trained a few pointers in the early days, so it’s back there in the generations," he smiles.

"About 14 years ago I’d said to Peter that I wouldn’t mind buying a few stores, and I actually got introduced to Willie by accident one day. I went to see a horse down in Wexford for an amateur to ride, and I think it was John Berry who said that it wasn’t for me, but that Willie Codd down the road had one.

The late Willie Codd trained the star in his early daysCredit: Patrick McCann

"The first thing I said to Peter when I spoke to him later was 'this fella’s horse looks unbelievable and he seems a very straight talker'.

"We bought Equal Status, who ended up at Punchestown running in a banks race and then we bought a son of Bach for friends at the store sales and sent him to Willie called Inspector Traci, who won his point well and Willie sold him for a nice profit for us."

Codd, the brother of master amateur rider Jamie, died at the age of only 43 to many heartfelt tributes. And Doyle pays an elegant contribution to his talent.

"He had some very good horses over the years and I think his family would be very proud of what he achieved in a short time," he says. "It’s a very tough business for those lads. They’re under pressure all the time and the way it’s gone now, there’s so much expectation to get those young horses out early.

"It was one thing Willie struggled to get his head around as he wanted to look after them, the horses he sold trained on, and he didn’t want to overdo them before someone else got them, but you still had to have them able to win.

"He was a great carer of horses, like a lot of those good guys are, and we had a very good relationship with him. We used to speak quite a bit, just about things and not just horses, but one of the things he struggled to get his head around was how competitive the points had got, how much he would want to push them before they ran.

"He wanted another day for people, which makes sense for the whole wheel to come back."

A NEW OWNERSHIP FORCE

Through Lostintranslation, Doyle has developed a relationship with the Tizzards which included the purchase of the sought-after The Big Breakaway at the Goffs Punchestown sale for a partnership involving prominent owner John Romans.

He and Codd have also had a secondary role in sourcing the equally useful Reserve Tank, a Grade 1 novice hurdle winner at Punchestown who lifted the Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton.

"Willie broke in Reserve Tank from early on, he liked him but unfortunately he passed away and we sent him to Johnny Fogarty," says Doyle. "Johnny rang me one day after taking him for a gallop and said, 'He’s a bit special I think'.

"When Lostintranslation finished second as a novice hurdler at Aintree, we were in the bar and the lads said, 'Have you got another one for us?' I said, 'Believe it or not there’s a horse by Jeremy who's unraced, you can take a punt, the boys recommend him'.

Owners Paul Taylor (second left) and Richard O'Dwyer (far left) after Lostintranslation's Betfair Chase successCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"I gave them a figure, and they said, 'Done'. There’s no humming and hawing, they go for it. They’ve worked in risk and analysis all their lives and are very good at it. They bring that into the horses, but still like to get advice and listen to people they trust."

Add in Ofalltheginjoints, the promising Stowaway owned in a partnership with friends under the banner of The Reserve Tankers, and recent Sandown victor Fiddlerontheroof, and there is a useful team assembled.

"You couldn’t ask for it to happen to two nicer fellas," says Doyle. "Willie was very straight and honest, and they are very similar guys, self-made people and there’s trust there, which is very much a confidence-booster.

"For them to be repaid with a nice horse is the icing on the cake. They’re very good for the game."

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