Tizzard quick to stress speed will not be a problem for Lostintranslation

3.05 Kempton
Ladbrokes King George VI Chase (Grade 1) | 3m, 4yo+ | ITV/RTV

Both Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh are big fans of Lostintranslation but the two riding legends believe he may be more suited to the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup than the Ladbrokes King George VI. The Tizzard team respectfully disagrees.

The Betfair Chase winner is clear favourite for the Gold Cup but vies for King George market leadership with Cyrname, a horse whose trainer insists is not even under consideration for the sport's holy grail.

One might almost say Lostintranslation is a victim of his own success – or one success in particular, for had he not been so impressive over nearly three and a quarter miles at Haydock, would people be so quick to praise his stamina but question his speed?

Trainer Colin Tizzard's son Joe is certainly not anxious. He knows the horse and knows what he has achieved in the form book. He points to his defeat of Defi Du Seuil in last season's Dipper Novices' Chase and then his close second to the same star in Grade 1 events at Sandown and Cheltenham.

Conversely, in none of those contests did he achieve a Racing Post Rating greater than 162. Upped to 3m1f at Aintree in April, he thrashed RSA Chase winner Topofthegame and ran to a mark of 166. At Haydock he soared to 177.

A lack of stamina will surely not cost him Gold Cup glory. Joe Tizzard is equally adamant a lack of speed will not stop Robbie Power's mount winning the King George, either.

"I really don't think pace is going to be a problem," said Tizzard. "Last season we were taking on the horse who was the best British novice over two miles and two and a half miles in Defi Du Seuil – and he is now a live contender for the Champion Chase.

"We've never had any concerns about stepping him up in trip, but we were also in no rush to do it last season. I know he won over three miles and a furlong at Aintree, but we purposely didn't even enter him in the RSA because we didn't think it was right for him at that stage of his career.

"We're obviously hoping the Gold Cup will tick one of his boxes but we really don't think pace will be a problem at Kempton. One of the things we took from Haydock was how well he travelled. Robbie has no worries about his pace, either."

Winning the King George should be a big ask for any horse. Ask Tizzard, though, and he is optimistic Lostintranslation can come up with the answer.

"We haven't missed a day's work with him since Haydock," he said. "He came out of that really well and looks a million dollars. He's had a perfect prep and we couldn't be happier with him. This is the next step in his career and we're looking forward to the challenge."

Tizzard had also been due to run last year's runner-up Thistlecrack, who was declared a non-runner due to a bruised foot.

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