Cheltenham Festival: Native River ready to challenge Might Bite's date with history
BySportsbeat
Published 16/03/2018 at 08:44 GMT
Native River leads a talented field of Gold Cup horses hoping to spoil the party and stop Nicky Henderson from writing yet another chapter in the history books.
Eurosport
Image credit: Eurosport
The master of Seven Barrows is on the cusp of becoming the first trainer to land the meet's three showpieces, having already watched Buveur D'air and Altior bring home the Champion Hurdle and Chase.
And in long-time favourite Might Bite, winner of last year's RSA Chase, Henderson has a superstar contender more than capable of landing him his third Gold Cup.
But the softer turf will be a concern, especially in the company of Colin Tizzard's Native River, who finished third by little more than two lengths in last year's instalment.
The eight-year-old was last seen storming to an emphatic 12 length victory in February's Denman Chase at Newbury on his return from a 330 day absence.
Tizzard failed to win a race at last year's Festival but believes his powerful chaser, who could head into the race as joint favourite, has the potential to secure jump racing's biggest prize. Â
"He's got a wonderful chance. The Gold Cup is the hardest race of the season as they go flat out and normally the big strong stayers win it," he said.
"It is the hardest race of the season as you get horses like Sizing John who can travel and then show pace at the end. It's not always the same type that wins it though and it's just about always the best horse on the day."
In the absence of last year's Sizing John, his stablemate Our Duke leads the charge for trainer Jessica Harrington and looks the most likely of the travelling Irish contingent.
The eight-year-old has not had the best of preparations, finishing fourth in the Irish Gold Cup after a jumping error and edged an enthralling encounter with Presenting Percy, winner of the RSA, in the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.
However his trainer, who landed an extraordinary treble last year, believes the time is right for her charge to make his Cheltenham debut, as he bits to reach the lofty heights his predecessors.
"He hasn't had a lot of chasing experience, so each race at this stage is going to be of benefit to him. I was happy with him at Gowran, but he does lack a bit of concentration when he's not going as quick as he'd like," she said.
"Robert [Power] is always saying that he has a high cruising speed and when he's travelling below that, he doesn't concentrate. My instructions to him will be simple, go out, jump and come home in front!"
Jonathan Harding/Sportsbeat 2018
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