Tizzard ace Lostintranslation set to go straight to the Cheltenham Gold Cup

Lostintranslation will go to the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup without a prep run with trainer Colin Tizzard being cautious with the chaser after his disappointing performance in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase.

The eight-year-old was sent off a 15-8 second favourite for the December 26 showpiece following a decisive Betfair Chase win, but he never travelled at Kempton with Robbie Power forced to
pull him up three out. Connections reported a breathing problem after the race.

The dual Grade 1 winner has since had his palate cauterised and Tizzard remains optimistic a line can be drawn after that below-par effort.

The Tizzards had planned for Lostintranslation to return in the Betfair Denman Chase on February 8 but instead he will head straight to the Gold Cup, for which he is a top-priced 8-1 chance.

Lostintranslation (yellow): did not run his race in the King George VI Chase, won by Clan Des Obeaux (front)Credit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

Tizzard said: "He's doing well at the moment. I don't think we can rush to run him [for a prep race] so it'll be better to give him a racecourse gallop somewhere in the middle of February and then on to the Gold Cup. We're hoping he'll go to Cheltenham nice and fresh.

"The palate is cauterised now, so we're positive. He was riding well on Monday and we'll start cantering on Wednesday with him."

Lostintranslation's stablemate and 2018 Gold Cup hero Native River is on target for the Denman Chase in preparation for a fourth crack at the Cheltenham Festival's iconic contest. Native River, who is a general 16-1 chance for the Gold Cup, won Newbury's Grade 2 event in 2017 and 2018.

"Native River's in lovely form," added the trainer. "He'll go to the Denman Chase next at Newbury then onto the Gold Cup.

"That's where we went the last time, then it was cancelled last year because of the flu and we decided not to go to Ascot [restaged a week later]. It'll be ideal if we can get there with him this time."

Native River: an easy winner of the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on his only start this seasonCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Elegant Escape could also be in the mix for the Gold Cup and Tizzard added: "He's fine after Chepstow [sixth in the Coral Welsh National] and we'll try and run him in the Gold Cup. He probably won't have a prep race as we'll look to go to the National after Cheltenham. The Gold Cup will be his prep race for Aintree."

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