Nothing Lost in emphatic win for ‘Translation

Bloodless. Scintillating. Impressive. All these superlatives could describe the way Lostintranslation staked his claim for this season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup with an immaculate display of jumping to take the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Steeplechase at Carlisle.

Under the guidance of jockey Robbie Power, the seven-year-old son of Flemensfirth led from flag-fall, and never saw another rival, putting in some spectacular leaps along the way. He will not doubt receive more stronger tests of his ability; indeed, his trainer Colin Tizzard was quick to select the Betfair Chase at Haydock in 3 weeks’ time as his next target. Nevertheless, the manner in which he repelled his 3 market rivals’ challenges was one of complete control, and no doubt strengthens his position in the market for the top staying chases of the season.

From flagfall it was business as usual for the Flemensfirth gelding, straight into the lead and bowling on in front at the head of affairs ahead of Count Meribel 3 lengths behind with Kildisart, and My Old Gold happy to sit at the rear.

Lostintranslation flew the 5th, standing off by the wings, showing exhuberance and enthusiasm in abundance. Swinging away down the back there was no change in the order, everyone running well within themselves at the half way point. At the 9th My Old Gold was a little squiffy, but not a serious error. Booted into 3 out he was still looking barely in second gear, and flew the fence, stealing two lengths off his rivals as they tried to raise their efforts, though Kildisart and My Old Gold were already well spent and vainly trying to keep a closer tabs on the leader.

By now it was increasingly clear that despite Count Meribel’s efforts there was only going to be one winner of the race. He sailed over the last and was barely ridden out by Robbie Power to score by a comfy 2 ¼ lengths, in a fashion that screamed potential and oozed quality.

Trainer Colin Tizzard was quick to identify his next target, with the Betfair Chase at Haydock being labelled as his next port of call in a couple of weeks time. If there was a performance designed to show any rivals for a championship race that he meant business and they should be worried, it can be safely argued that this was the way to do it.

Rest Of Action

The meeting began with all talk being focused on the 4/5F Faustinovick, touted up as a potential superstar and being backed as if losing was out of the question. However, just like in his point to point and bumper he could only manage second, with victory going in somewhat of a surprise to the Nicky Richards trained Glenduff under a typically cool and well judged ride from Brian Hughes for owner Trevor Hemmings.

Oh No took them along, with the Donald McCain French import Pichelot for company as the field began the run towards the first. Shortly after that hurdle Red Receiver became the first horse to depart the contest due to a slipped saddle. Wye Aye was also pulling hard at the rear of the field for jockey Colm McCormack.

There was hardly any change until a circuit down as Victory Echo went on by a few lengths, while favourite Faustinovick made smooth progress under Robbie Power to take closer order. However, on the long turn for home and towards 3 out he was briefly shaken up by Robbie to maintain his position, responding well and taking closer order to victory echo. Glenduff and Equus Dancer were mounting challenges in behind, and at 2 out Faustinovick made a hash of it and lost valuable ground.

On the run to the last Glenduff and Brian Hughes went up the rail to the lead, making smooth progress when others were toiling and jumped it just ahead of Faustinovick, who wasn’t fluent yet again and could only keep on at one pace as Glenduff readily stayed on in the final stages up the hill to score by 3 ¾ lengths from the well backed favourite. Equus Dancer took third, while Victory Gold stayed on for fourth.

Last year’s winner of the Gordon Richards Chase was Count Meribel, who finished second to the impeccable Lostintrainslation in the feature and ran creditably in the RSA at the Cheltenham Festival, and connections of Two For Gold will hope the future is similarly bright for their charge as he took the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase in dogged, determined fashion under jockey David Bass.

Sent off the 11/4 Fav, he was always at the front and head of affairs, staying on in very determined fashion to deny I’m To Blame by 1 ¾ lengths in the very soft conditions.

The latter made a superb leap at the first to take two places from take off and landing from his rivals. All were jumping well over the first half dozen fences, with no alarms and all running well despite the mucky conditions and murky weather.

Dominateur made an error over the first down the back, Gavin Sheehan gathering him up as the field went on towards the next. Sam’s Adventure was also running a bit flat at this point, jockey Henry Brooke rousting him along to get him to try and pick up the bit again.

At 5 out Dominateur unshipped Gavin Sheehan and in the process hampered Millarville, who parted company with Tommy Dowson in the incident. Both sets of horses and jockeys got up unharmed from it as the field began to stretch out a little, Hill Sixteen most notably starting to feel the pinch. At 4 out Two For Gold was rousted into it by David Bass, joining alongside I’m To Blame in the air but the latter was cleaner away from it. Knockrobin was going well on the inside, but at 3 out it was a reversal up front and these two began to go clear from the rest of the field as the field went up the hill.

At 2 out Two For Gold went on by 4 lengths as I’m To Blame was challenged by the rallying Sam’s Adventure and Chapel Stile. He held off them two and tried valiantly to close in on the leader, who had slipped the field, but the bird had flown the nest and was clear by enough to win slightly eased down by his jockey to make a winning chase debut.

The phrase “Rabbit in the headlights” may evoke images of fear and terror, but the winner who shares their name with the phrase was anything but as Frightened Rabbit put in a brave performance to make a pillar to post victory seem like childs play in the Jethros Sandwich Deli of Haltwiste Handicap Hurdle.

Trained by Mrs Dianne Sayer, the 7 year old son of Hard Spun relished the underfoot conditions to score by 2 and a half lengths for owner Mr Tony Harrison and jockey Danny McMenamin, his 5lb claim coming very handy.

On the run to the first Frightened Rabbit and Snowed in were at the head of affairs, Tim Rocco pulling a little under Henry Brooke.

On the majority of the way round the order did not change, but upon turning out of the back straight and approaching the climb for home the field became very spread eagled, Ex S’elance, Western Lass and early front runner Snowed In among the horses who did not appreciate the conditions and started to drop back.

Danny onboard Frightened Rabbit however just seemed to be oozing confidence on the leader and never looked like losing, even from a long way home. A brief crack of the whip between the last two flights and one on the run in was all he needed to keep him up to his work and he scored for the third time this season, beating Maypole Class into second who tried hard to catch the leader but was never getting there, with Wise Coco the best of the rest.

Bordeaux Bill got the better of a fight with Aye Right up the long hill and home stretch at Carlisle to take the Jim Williamson Memorial Handicap Hurdle under jockey Danny Cook for trainer Brian Ellison and owners Julie & Phil Martin.

In receipt of nearly a stone from the runner up, the winner made good progress late on in the race to tackle the early leader and score by 1 ½ lengths at a price of 8/1, these two well clear of the field in a gruelling contest.

Aye Right and Blow By Blow, the 2018 winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, took the field along. However, by the middle flight down the home straight he had dropped back to the mid field.

As the pace increased towards the seventh Aye Right flew that hurdle and took a length out of the opposition as Blow By Blow began to drop out of contention quite rapidly. At three out the two in front, Bordeaux Bill and Aye Right began to pull away from the opposition and settled down to slug it out between each other as the rest gave way, Eternally Yours the only one who tried to go with them.

There was nothing between them over the last two hurdles, but Bordeaux Bill who pulled out just a little more to score by 1 ½ lengths from the brave runner up, the lesser weight aiding his effort undoubtedly. Eternally Yours was a distant third, the rest coming in at large intervals in the conditions.

Bafana Blue was all hype before the race after the way he scored at the course 10 days previously, and he made sure the hype and belief was justified as he took the Cumberland Handicap Hurdle under Ross Chapman for trainer Maurice Barnes and owners Hogarth, Morris, Percival & Irving.

At flagfall the 14 year old veteran Harry The Viking went straight to the lead under Rachel McDonald and jumped the fence big and bold, more akin to a 4 year old than his age, and continuing to bowl on in front until fence number 3.

Old Salt was a little sloppy at some of his fences, jumping a little slower than usual as the leader Lough Derg Farmer lost his concentration and wandered a little, jockey Danny Cook needing to issue a few reminders.

Going down the back for the final time Ballymalin was sent into the lead by Tom Bellamy as Harry The Viking was relegated to second last and seemingly struggling. Ballymalin was slow at the thirteenth as Lough Derg Farmer went back to the lead, and Scotchtown moved up to join Ballymalin for second, Bafana Blue sat in behind contently. Old Sort was never any closer than when he started and made no impression on any of the principles, and Harry The Viking was shortly afterwards pulled up.

While Lough Derg Farmer, Ballymalin and Scotchtown were all being ridden along Bafana Blue was cruising along approaching 3 out under Ross Chapman. He was barely moving a muscle aboard him, and he swept into the lead approaching two out and the race was over. The gelding jumped the remaining obstacles with efficient precision and Ross even had time to glance around for danger, such was the comfort and impressive nature of the performance from his partner. He had made in 4 out of his last 6 starts and is on the upgrade in taking fashion.

The final race of the day was the “Every Race Live On Racing Tv Standard Open NH Flat Race, and went to the Donald McCain trained and Mr Tim Leslie owned Chuvelo, who was making his stable debut after being purchased following his second place in a Fairyhouse bumper in April. He drew clear in the final stages under Brian Hughes and was never for catching, staying on stoutly in the conditions to score by 4 lengths to Call Me Freddie and Wee Goldie.

Once again, a massive thank you to the General Manager Molly Dingwall for the access, we are hugely grateful for the opportunities to photograph at the course, and look forward to returning in the future. Plus, the Cumberland sausages are amazing!

Until next time!