2019 King George

Colin Tizzard has thrown his full support behind Lostintranslation's bid for Ladbrokes King George VI Chase glory, saying his nascent stable star has all the right attributes for Kempton's winter highlight.

Tizzard was speaking to the media at his Dorset yard on a miserable Tuesday morning, but he was upbeat when discussing the chances of the impressive Betfair Chase winner, the sponsor's joint-favourite with Cyrname at 9-4.

The trainer also raised the intriguing possibility of fielding another candidate at Kempton on December 26 with last year's Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River a shock supplementary option if conditions are testing, while Thistlecrack – the King George winner in 2016 – is still in contention for one of the sport's most prestigious prizes.

Lostintranslation, however, is the trainer's main contender at the moment, and by some way.

Tizzard, who also captured the 2015 King George with his breakthrough horse Cue Card, said of the seven-year-old: "He's probably more unknown still compared to those two.

"Thistlecrack went there as a World Hurdle winner, while Cue Card had a few goes in it before he won. It is a furious race and they will go flat out – they normally do – and a stayer wins it.

"Lostintranslation beat Defi Du Seuil over two and a half miles last year, so he's got the pace and his stamina is pretty much guaranteed now. He's got everything going for him.

"I'm sure Cyrname will go flat out, which I think will help us. Lostintranslation is not a slow horse and we know he stays."

Tizzard doubts he will run three in the £250,000 contest and added: "Lostintranslation has got the best chance – there's no doubt. He's the young horse going forward and has everything.

"Bristol De Mai is a Haydock horse and might not have been at his best in the Betfair Chase, but we outstayed him and ours pricked his ears halfway up the run-in. He showed us he can stay. At home he looks all over a big, three-mile chaser, but he's got pace – he could lay up with Defi Du Seuil all last season."

Turning his attention to the opposition, Tizzard added: "Cyrname is a very fast horse. If he can go flat out and still win a King George he's a megastar, and don't forget Altior if he turns up. This is a huge race and we just want to make sure we've got ours right."

It would cost Native River's owners Garth and Anne Broom £10,000 to add their chestnut – a 16-1 shot with Ladbrokes – to the King George line-up.

The nine-year-old won his first race since his Gold Cup triumph under Richard Johnson at Aintree on Saturday, and Tizzard said: "We've not totally ruled out supplementing Native River if it got really wet and was set up to be run flat out for a stayer to take it at the end.

"Richard rang me yesterday and wanted to have a chat. It's the first time he's ever called me, so there's something to be said for it!

"He thinks Native River felt as good as he did two years ago. We haven't put anything to bed – it's just something that has come up in the last 48 hours. We're not sure and want our best route to the Gold Cup.

"He went to the Denman Chase at Newbury and then the Gold Cup a few years ago. He could go to the Grand National if we didn't do the Welsh National, which is a gruelling race off top weight, but that's the sort of race he's suited to.

"He still showed his old spark, even if you have to ask for it a bit. We couldn't have dreamed for any more at Aintree and he's come out of it well. We've just got to make sure he's in the right races until Cheltenham, so won't rule anything in or out.

"It would have to be heavy, which is unlikely, but we're in a different year this year and it's more like normal English weather, and if it rains every day for the next two weeks there's a chance he could be supplemented.

"I don't want to put people away and he might even go to the Welsh National, but we're keeping our options open – it's not a straightforward decision."

Thistlecrack, a general 16-1 for the King George, was second to staying king Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury this month and could remain over hurdles for Ascot’s Marsh Hurdle if he bypasses Kempton.

Tizzard said: "It was a lovely run at Newbury and he could go to the King George, but he could also stay hurdling. It's 50-50 and he's a delicate horse; do we really want to run him in a ferocious King George, or do we turn up for Ascot?"

No jockey knows what it takes to win the King George VI Chase quite like Ruby Walsh, whose association with Paul Nicholls has made him the most successful jockey in the history of the race, and he is convinced Cyrname will come out on top at Kempton next week.

Nicholls' jockey Harry Cobden has to choose between the best of the formidable talent stabled at Ditcheat in the form of last season's winner Clan Des Obeaux and Altior's conqueror Cyrname. But Walsh, who won the King George five times aboard the legendary Kauto Star and is no stranger to the difficult choices that come when stable jockey to the Nicholls yard, believes it is a no-brainer for Cobden to ride Cyrname in the Ladbrokes-sponsored showpiece on Boxing Day.

"I can see exactly what Harry Cobden is doing – why would he commit to one in case something was to happen to the other? Harry doesn't have to play his cards yet and I'd be doing the exact same thing if I was him. I'd say nothing until I had to," Walsh said.

"On current form, when it comes down between Cyrname and Clan Des Obeaux, there's no call to make. For me, the choice in the King George is between Cyrname and Lostintranslation."

But while Walsh, who rode 59 Cheltenham Festival winners and was faced with a number of high profile options over a career that spanned three decades, believes Britain's highest-rated chaser is the most likely winner of the December 26 showpiece – he would rather partner Lostintranslation in the Magners Gold Cup next March if offered the choice.

"I'd stick with Cyrname, just because of the pace he has and the way that he travels, I'd be for him. But for the Gold Cup, I'd be jumping ship and siding with Lostintranslation," he added.

Walsh, who is an ambassador for Paddy Power and was speaking at a media event organised by the firm in the Boar’s Head pub in Dublin where the betting company's new podcast ‘From The Horse’s Mouth’ was launched, said Willie Mullins could be represented by 2018 Arkle winner Footpad.

"Footpad was good at Thurles and I think the intention is to run. The Footpad who won the Arkle would have a super chance in the King George but, he won at Thurles, and it's hard to compare that form to a King George," he said.

"But he showed his health and his wellbeing that day and I don't think the trip would be any trouble to him. He's a big runner and he's a great price each-way."

Walsh still plays an integral role in Mullins’ operation and was recently spotted putting Leopardstown-bound Chacun Pour Soi through his paces at Punchestown last week.

Providing an update on the Susannah Ricci-owned chaser, who is in line to make his seasonal return in the Paddy Power-sponsored Grade 1 chase over two miles on December 27, Walsh said: "He gave me a great feel – he's a lovely horse."

Asked if the seven-year-old could be the real deal, Walsh responded: "He could be,” before revealing he has no desire to return to race riding.

“No, the itch isn't there – the itch is well scratched. When we were at Punchestown last week, I was heading out on Chacun Pour Soi, and Willie said, 'are we allowed to jump?' I said, 'I don't care, if we're jumping I won't be riding it.'”

Walsh added: “He's probably one of the most exciting horses in training but those days are over for me. I'd ride him on the Flat alright, but there's enough young lads there to get hurt. I loved and I enjoyed it but I was ready for something else.”

Walsh also provided updates on two other Mullins-trained superstars, Laurina and Faugheen.

The former could clash with Joseph O'Brien's exciting Fakir D'Oudairies in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown and Walsh said: "Leopardstown will suit Laurina. There's only two fences inside the last five furlongs and that will suit her.

"She's a very good jumper but jumping is Fakir D'Oudairies' greatest strength. He could poach a lot of ground down the back straight with the way he jumps. If there's any rain at Leopardstown that would also suit Laurina. It should be a great race."

Faugheen holds entries at Limerick and Leopardstown over the Christmas period and Walsh added: "He's in really good order at home. He's a former Champion Hurdle winner and he hasn't a whole lot of miles on the clock. I know John Codd [groom] is very happy with him."