Lostintranslation can have final say in Haydock showdown

Lostintranslation has much in his favour as he bids to retain his Betfair Chase title at Haydock.

Colin Tizzard's eight- yearold announced himself as a Cheltenham Gold Cup candidate 12 months ago when he foiled the reopposing Bristol De Mai's hat- trick bid in today's Grade One feature on Merseyside.

Statistically, the passage of another year can only be to Lostintranslation's advantage as he continues to mature, while Nigel Twiston- Davies' grey bids to keep his top- class level of form after 33 career starts over seven seasons.

Lostintranslation has less than half that mileage on his clock - and having mastered the admirable Bristol De Mai convincingly after the last a year ago, has obvious prospects of doing so again. He must get the better too of Clan Des Obeaux this time, but is rightly favourite to do so.

Tizzard's stable star was a length- and- a- half winner here in 2019, having begun his campaign with a hugely- promising victory in a Listed chase at Carlisle. He was then a disappointment in the King George VI Chase at Kempton where he was pulled up, and Clan Des

Obeaux stormed to a second successive victory.

A breathing problem was diagnosed to explain Losintranslation's mediocre performance and after a wind operation, he returned to finish an admirable third at Cheltenham, with Clan Des Obeaux and Bristol De Mai well behind in eighth and ninth. Lostintranslation's two main rivals can be expected to run better this weekend than they did then, having both previously shown their liking for this track. But he has proved he is fine here too - and on most recent form, and likely career progression, he should still have them covered.

Charl i e Longsdon had a choice of engagements f or Snow Leopardess, and has decided on the Betfair Supports Safer Gambling Week Handicap Chase - with the assistance of Brian Hughes - as she bids to take advantage of a handy mark after two promising placed efforts from her only attempts over fences.