Horse Racing Sport

Cheltenham Gold Cup: Native River Returns To The Mix

11-year-old Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Native River, returned to form with success in the rescheduled Virgin bet Cotswold Chase.

The race was originally scheduled to be run at Cheltenham Racecourseโ€™s Trials Day meeting – but due to the adverse weather, was moved to Sandown Park on Saturday.


The Colin Tizzard-trained superstar missed the 2020 renewal of National Huntโ€™s showpiece race due to injury, before returning to action in The Many Clouds Chase in December.

Undoubtedly, his comeback run at Aintree in December was needed, but his 9 1/2-length victory on Saturday – on heavy ground – was as impressive as any and handed jockey Richard Johnson a treble on the day.

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In his usual gamely fashion, Native River set a relentless gallop in his preferred testing conditions, taking the railway fences superbly in another assured round of jumping, running his rivals into the unforgiving turf.

His 14th career success was a much-welcomed one for the Tizzard team, who have had a poor season by their standards, putting his name back into the hat for Gold Cup glory once again.

After the race, Johnson gave his verdict:

โ€œHe jumped the railway fences really well and again got into a nice rhythm – and we know he stays really well and he handles the conditions. It was a fantastic effort.โ€

Assistant trainer, Joe Tizzard, praised the yard star and confirmed his next target will come at Cheltenham:

โ€œHeโ€™s done nothing wrong in the last five years – he just keeps producing.

โ€œHeโ€™s as tough as they come and heโ€™s never lost his enthusiasm.

โ€œHe had really come to himself the last couple of weeks – and as he gets older, he has perhaps lost half a gear, so the ground probably helps him.

โ€œHe is a lovely chap in the stable, and The Gold Cup has always been the plan. This was the prep run for it.โ€

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16/1 (Bet365) is the best price currently and looks a very enticing each-way prospect for a horse who has shown so much consistency. The more rain in Cheltenham ahead of March 19, the better his chances!

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