The man based in Somerset goes into the 2020/21 campaign with high hopes that he can lift the trophy again as Lostintranslation is one of the leading contenders.
The eight-year-old finished third in the race last year which was won by the defending champion Al Boum Photo. He was just under two lengths away from the winner back in March in an excellent first run in the 3m2f contest.
Lostintranslation has two Grade One victories to his name over fences. He was successful at Aintree in 2019 in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase, beating his rivals by an impressive six lengths. A second victory at the highest level came last season in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.
Lostintranslation is 12/1 in the horse racing betting for the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Those odds will shorten if he prevails at Haydock later this month in his seasonal reappearance in the first Grade One contest in the division. He currently tops the ante-post market at 13/8 to do just that.
A much better performance from the horse can be expected in the King George VI Chase this year if, indeed, connections opt for their runner to line up. He was pulled up in the feature race on Boxing Day in 2019, but it later became apparent he had breathing problem. That issue was rectified with a wind-op not long after his run.
This Year’s Gold Cup Could Be One of Best for A Long Time
Al Boum Photo will be bidding to match Best Mate’s achievement of a hat-trick of wins in the race later in the season. Willie Mullins’ runner is expected to have a light campaign once again in his build-up to the Cheltenham Festival.
The Irish horse is the early favourite in the betting at 5/1. There are no question marks about his ability to get up the hill at Prestbury Park, therefore, it is no surprise that the bookmakers make him the one to beat.
Another horse who was well in the mix in 2020 was Santini. Nicky Henderson’s chaser finished second in the Gold Cup, just a neck behind Al Boum Photo. That was an outstanding run on what was just his sixth appearances over fences.
Henderson will be confident Santini can step up from what he produced so far in the 3m chase division. The former winner of the Cotswold Chase has had a number of issues which have kept him off the track at various stages over the last few years. They now look behind him.
All the leading trainers in National Hunt racing are set to be represented in the Gold Cup in 2021. If Tizzard can come out on top, it will be a huge victory for a yard which has come a long way over the last few years.