'We feel for the Flat guys': team Tizzard look to the future during lockdown

The Colin Tizzard team are strictly following all coronavirus guidance as they prepare for the summer off-season but are sympathetic for those working in Flat racing, with the pandemic putting their season into jeopardy.

Members of staff at Venn Farm are maintaining the government's advised social distancing while cleanliness is a priority for yard personnel, who are preparing their star-studded team for their breaks.

Joe Tizzard, assistant and son to Colin, said on Wednesday: "We're doing all we can really. Our horses are all winding down now. It's just sort of a month early and we're getting ready to turn them out as soon as the weather breaks and it's warm enough.

"We're trying to look after all the staff here and make sure we deal with everything correctly. We're doing as much as we can with social distancing and keeping people apart and the hand sanitisers are everywhere, that's all we can do here. At the moment we haven't had to lay anybody off."

Losing Aintree's three-day Grand National festival was a big blow to the Tizzard team. They have enjoyed nine winners in the past three seasons at the meeting and were likely to be strongly represented again.

"It's a shame to lose the big meetings, of course it is, but there's something much bigger going on at the moment", added Tizzard. "For now we'll just do as we're told and it'll all get sorted. We're lucky we had 90 per cent of the season and that this has come just a month before the season is going to end.

"We feel for the whole industry, but more so the Flat guys. They've got horses ready to go and they haven't had any of the turf season yet."

The Tizzards have plenty to look forward to ahead of the new season, especially with Lostintranslation, who ran a mighty race to finish third in the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Native River finished third in the race in 2017 before winning the Gold Cup the next season, and the dream is alive that his stablemate can emulate that success in 2021.

"It'd be nice if he could do the same," said Tizzard. "We were thrilled to bits with Lostintranslation, he travelled best throughout the race – perhaps too well – and he had every chance.

Joe Tizzard was encouraged by Lostintranslation's Gold Cup third earlier this monthCredit: Dan Mullan / Getty Images

"We couldn't be happier with his run, he stayed the trip well and answered even more questions to us. If we can keep him sound and healthy he can run massive races in Gold Cups in the years to come."

Of the rest of their festival team, he added: "We had a great bunch of novice hurdlers who didn't quite perform at Cheltenham but they're nice horses. We're really excited about our novice chasers next season. They'll have a real decent summer and we'll look forward to them next year."

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