Colin Tizzard: Cheltenham's on the horizon and he's calling the shots
Peter Thomas on a family taking the next giant leap into jumping's big time
"There's a Gold Cup winner coming up the hill now," murmurs Colin Tizzard in the early morning gloom, and the conversation enters a respectful lull while onlookers attempt to process the information. Is it a tip, perhaps? A warning to step away from the fast-moving chestnut to avoid the backdraft? Or a mild bollocking to those who have drifted too close to the woodchip?
Actually, it turns out to be none of these. Simply a piece of historical fact. While all the talk has been of Lostintranslation – the yard's up-and-coming addition to the realm of top-class staying chasers – the trainer is keen to remind us that he also has a horse who has been there, done that and got the blanket.
"Don't forget my Gold Cup winner," he persists, in case we haven't been paying attention. "He'll beat Lostintranslation,” he adds, and suddenly we're all ears. Then comes the grin and the chuckle as the mischievous 64-year-old enjoys the slack-jawed astonishment whipped up by his artful ruse.
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- 'You can see why people end up struggling - when you're trying to pay the electric bill, losing one ride can be massive'
- 'I've never paid six figures for a horse and never will - I learned pretty quickly you're only one phone call away from f*** all'
- 'I’ve trained some fabulous horses, worked with some excellent riders - maybe I have brought a little bit of talent to the table as well'
- ‘When you’re in the moment and you’re starved, you’re ready to explode - everything built up and I just lost my s**t’
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