Tiutchev was an English racehorse who started his racing career as a Flat horse for trainer Roger Charlton. He made his debut in September 1996 in a Haydock maiden, where he finished 6th. He went on to have two further runs for Roger Charlton, before being transferred to the yard of National Hunt trainer Henrietta Knight, for he made his debut when finishing 4th in maiden hurdle at Warwick in February 1997. He failed to shine in his next 3 races, where he fell and then unseated his rider in the next 2. He ended the season on an improved note however, as he was placed in his next 2 runs.