The Listed 2m 4f Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase is the feature race at Carlisle on Sunday (14:30). Lostintranslation brings leading form claims into the contest which has been used as a launchpad for many highly regarded sorts.
Trained by Colin Tizzard, this seven-year-old son of Flemensfirth progressed throughout last season.
After placing twice behind subsequent dual Grade 1 winner La Bague Au Roi, Lostintranslation made it third time lucky over fences when defeating Defi Du Seuil in the Dipper at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day.
Although the runner-up reversed form off 3lb better terms in the Scilly Isles at Sandown and won again in the JLT Novices’ Chase, there still looked to be a top prize in Lostintranslation.
That view was confirmed when Tizzard stepped him up in trip for the 3m 1f Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. Lostintanslation came clear of RSA hero Topofthegame to score by six easy lengths at the Grand National meeting.
Those exploits have earned him an official rating of 161 – the highest in the Colin Parker line-up. While Lostintranslation has to give weight all-round, he still comes out 3lb and upwards clear of his three rivals on adjusted figures.
It makes him impossible to oppose as he is the class horse. With the drop back in trip holding no fears and Robbie Power once again in the saddle, Lostintranslation is 8/13 with Unibet to make a winning reappearance.
Kildisart the danger in Colin Parker
Trainer Ben Pauling and powerful owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede have Kildisart engaged, so the hot favourite may not have it all his own way.
The son of Dubai Destination has least to find with Lostintranslation, but was well behind Tizzard’s charge over hurdles the season before last.
Connections have a seven-year-old who is three from five in this sphere in Kildisart, however.
He was also behind the re-opposing Count Meribel over this trip on the hurdles course here two years ago, but has made up into a much better chaser.
Kildisart chased home Wenyerreadyfreddie at Ascot on reappearance last term, then went one better at the same venue.
As he just prevailed by a short-head from Actival in that Graduation Chase, it was a hard earned one. Kildisart followed-up in the Timeform Novices’ Handicap on Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham when scoring by a couple of lengths.
That punched his ticket to the JLT, but he was only fourth and 10 lengths behind Lostintranslation.
Like the runner-up, however, Kildisart has since come out and won over a staying trip with a five-length victory in a Grade 3 handicap chase at Aintree.
On all known form, Lostintranslation has beating of him. Should the jolly failed to fire first time out, then Kildisart looks the one most likely to take advantage and is 11/4 with Bethard to do just that.
Count Meribel and My Old Gold must improve
With only four going to post in the Colin Parker, there is no each-way betting with bookmakers on the race.
The aforementioned Count Meribel is a course and distance winner, but this demands more than his novice victory 12 months ago.
Trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies, the seven-year-old Three Valleys gelding is three from three career starts at Carlisle.
That commands Count Meribel respect, but he has plenty to find with both Kildisart and Lostintranslation off these terms.
Although winning both his first two starts over fences last term, including a neck victory over subsequent National Hunt Chase hero Le Breuil at Cheltenham, that early promise faded in graded company.
Count Meribel trailed in last of four to Vinndication in the Grade 2 Noel Novices’ Chase at Ascot and was then a distant seventh to Topofthegame in the RSA.
Given Lostintranslation beat that Cheltenham Festival winner, that makes it hard to make any sort of case.
The sole northern representative in the Colin Parker is the Nicky Richards trained mare My Old Gold.
She is the oldest in the line-up at nine, however, and vulnerable to the top class younger horses in opposition.
This daughter of Gold Well has never been out of the first two in four chase outings. After winning her bow over fences at Wetherby, My Old Gold chased home Blue Flight at Kelso.
The winner went on to lower the colours of Black Corton in a valuable Listed contest before finishing a fine fourth in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. That means the form isn’t too shabby.
My Old Gold also went in again on her final start of the campaign with a four-length Listed success at Perth. Despite bottom-weight, this is a far hotter race for the grade.
