Native River confirmed himself a serious Cheltenham Gold Cup contender with an emphatic success in his trial race here on Saturday, tightening the hold on that race by his trainer, Colin Tizzard, who also has Thistlecrack at the top of the betting.
Tizzard’s stable seemed out of form in the buildup to this meeting and Native River’s regular jockey, Richard Johnson, decided he was not healthy enough to take the ride – but the chestnut proved himself more robust than those around him and remains unbeaten over fences since the last Festival.
Tizzard was quick to praise Johnson for taking himself off the horse, the jockey having decided he was coming down with something after finishing third on two earlier rides. The trainer reported Johnson as telling him: “I feel wobbly. I couldn’t do the horse justice. I’d love to ride that horse but I’ve had this flu and I feel terrible.”
So the victory was handed to Aidan Coleman, who has established links to the Tizzard yard. But the trainer happily confirmed that Johnson would get the ride back in the Gold Cup.
The non-believers will have no difficulty picking holes in Native River’s achievement here, since his main rival, Bristol De Mai, seemed to run some way below his best form. That left only the 14-1 shot Le Mercurey to offer any sort of challenge but Native River was always in control and showed a surprising amount of speed in the closing stages after more restrained tactics than usual.
Explaining that, Tizzard said: “Both in the Hennessy and the Welsh National, he’d gone six or eight lengths clear, four or five fences out, and only just held on. We thought we’d leave it a bit longer, wait ’til two out, and he’s sprinted to the line.
“He’s not just an out-and-out stayer, he’s got a bit of pace about him. We were riding him to outstay people. It’s lovely to see that. He’s got every gear now. Fantastic.”
Naturally, Tizzard was pressed to say whether he might prefer Native River’s Gold Cup claims to those of Thistlecrack or his other possible runners, Cue Card, Alary and Theatre Guide. Just as naturally, he declined.
“I don’t know if I’ve ever had a pecking order! Let’s hope we can run all five there, shall we? That’d be good fun. I’m just so proud to have these horses. They’re going to run together and then you’ll see for yourself which is the best. I wouldn’t have a clue. It’s just good to have them in form.”
On a card rich in Cheltenham clues, Altior produced two awe-inspiring leaps in the home straight as he pulled clear of his three rivals in the Game Spirit. So impressive was he that some commentators insisted he should be thrown into the Champion Chase against Douvan but his trainer, Nicky Henderson, politely turned down the opportunity to take on the most feared chaser in Britain and Ireland.
“The lovely thought would be taking Douvan on for a rumble in the jungle if Douvan and he could meet, undefeated, in a year’s time,” the Lambourn man said. “Let’s just go Arkle first and then see.”
Disappointed and a bit baffled by Bristol De Mai’s flop, Nigel Twiston-Davies had three other winners on the day, including the well-backed Ballyandy in the Betfair Hurdle. That horse’s most obvious Festival target is the Supreme Novice Hurdle, though the trainer indicated he may go for the longer Neptune Hurdle if the ground is dry.
Watching from afar but intrigued by the outcome was David Pipe, whose Moon Racer beat Ballyandy twice in the autumn. Moon Racer figures prominently in betting on the Supreme but also holds an entry in the Champion Hurdle and the trainer expects to leave a decision on his final target until a late stage.
“I think he’ll be left in both races at the five-day stage and then we’ll see,” Pipe said.
“The deciding factors might be things like the strength of the opposition and how he is in himself.”
The trainer added that Moon Racer’s age must come into the discussion. The horse is now eight and it would be understandable if connections decided not to wait until he is nine before tackling the Champion Hurdle.
Sunday tips by Chris Cook
Exeter
1.50 Mr Clarkson 2.20 Finian’s Oscar 2.50 Impulsive Star 3.20 Kaki De La Pree 3.50 Tea For Two 4.20 Minella Charmer (nap) 4.50 Harefield
Sedgefield
2.10 Mister Springsprong (nb) 2.40 Culmination 3.10 Gray Day 3.40 Triptico 4.10 Heaven Scent 4.40 Tuscan Gold
