Lostintranslation housed in Cue Card's stable with Tizzard dreaming of Gold Cup

Lostintranslation has been given Cue Card's box by Colin Tizzard, who hopes he can be his next great chaser and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Tizzard, speaking at his owners' day, says the Mildmay Novices' Chase winner had all the tools to be a Gold Cup contender and the journey to the festival was likely to start at Carlisle in November.

The likes of multiple Grade 1 winner Cue Card, who retired this year, and Gold Cup hero Native River have helped provide the yard with a golden decade, but Tizzard said on Sunday that he had his strongest team yet.

Plenty of big-money purchases have joined the star-studded roster at Venn Farm, Dorset, where a new gallop has been installed over the summer.

The trainer said: “We have serious depth and now we have horses for every big race and each division. We have never had that before and that is the exciting bit. We are much stronger than we have ever been – we have some serious firepower and we can’t wait.

Cue Card: a hero for trainer Colin Tizzard over the yearsCredit: Patrick McCann

“When we had Cue Card and Thistlecrack you worry when the next one is coming, but then Native River came and now Lostintranslation. We’ve also got two of last season's best novice hurdlers in Reserve Tank and Elixir De Nutz.”

Lostintranslation, who was an imposing six-length Grade 1 winner at Aintree at the end of the season, is being readied for a crucial campaign and he is a 12-1 chance with Coral for his principal target, the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Tizzard intends to run him in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on November 3, before tackling the top chasers at Grade 1 level.

Colin Tizzard Coral specials

Colin Tizzard to train the 2019 Ladbrokes King George VI Chase winner 7-1
Colin Tizzard to train the 2020 Gold Cup winner 8-1
Lostintranslation to win the 2019-20 Chase Triple Crown 66-1

"The world is in front of him," Tizzard said. "I have had some great chasers and I hope he can be the next one.

"Everything we do is to try and make him into a Gold Cup horse, but before Christmas we will look at the Betfair Chase after a prep race. We will look at Wetherby or Carlisle, where the Colin Parker is a really nice option for him.

"He has got the pace to go to the King George – he was very competitive at two and a half miles – and he stays well too. He has everything you need to be a Gold Cup contender and he is ready for the big time."

Lostintranslation (yellow): winning at Grade 1 level at Aintree last yearCredit: Mark Cranham

On filling Cue Card's box, Tizzard added: "One of them had to go in there and he was the one that is the most likely to reach that level."

Lostintranslation will look to emulate Native River, who gave the yard a first Gold Cup win in 2018, and the nine-year-old is another to be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival showpiece. The ground will be the deciding factor on his preparation, but the Welsh National is a potential option.

“We must not underestimate Native River," Tizzard stressed. “There is no reason why he can’t run well in a Gold Cup again, especially if the ground is soft.

“We are keeping all options open for him but he might go for the Welsh National. He is rated 167 so it is a near impossible task but three mile five [furlongs] on that ground is right up his street, so he might go for it. We could go to Ireland [Savills Chase] too. He’ll be ready by the end of November.”

Native River (yellow, red and purple): aimed at the Cheltenham Gold Cup once againCredit: Edward Whitaker

The admirable Thistlecrack remains a yard favourite and is reported to be in great shape, but last season’s Ladbrokes Trophy winner Sizing Tennessee has been retired.

Tizzard said. “Thistlecrack is in pre-training but he has done that in past years, he injured his hock in the Gold Cup this year. If you go back to the King George, he looked as if he could win it from two out so the engine is still there. Everything is going well.”

Team Tizzard have enjoyed 11 winners so far this season and the new seven and a half furlong gallop, working alongside the uphill gallop, is already proving a success.

He said: “We refurbished our old gallops and the facilities are the best we have ever had and as good as anybody’s.

"We have kept the hill as we have trained Gold Cup and King George winners on there, but it is quite steep and I wanted to have one for younger horses. Older horses are really enjoying it too, it keeps them fit and fresh.

"Sizing Granite bolted up the other day and he was bouncing on it – being able to gallop the horses on both is a big boost for us.”

Excited for the return of the jumps? Read more from top connections ahead of the new season:

Paul Nicholls: 'Stable star Cyrname on course to meet mighty Altior at Ascot'

Paul Nicholls: 'Topofthegame strikes me as an ideal Gold Cup horse'

Paul Nicholls: 'Getaway Trump among talented group set for campaign over fences'

Jonjo O'Neill: 'Changing of the guard at Jackdaws Castle as O'Neill sets out battle plan'

Rich Ricci: 'Top talent Chacun Pour Soi has Rich Ricci dreaming of further big-race glory'

Jamie Snowden: 'Fabulous Paul Nicholls talk fuels Snowden's next Cheltenham Festival dream'

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily on racingpost.com and the Racing Post app for all the day's going updates, news and tips