TIMICO CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP (GRADE 1)

IF the Cheltenham Festival belonged to two trainers, the Gold Cup belonged to two horses and two horses only as Native River and Might Bite served up a titanic and epic tussle from which Colin Tizzard’s charge finally emerged victorious.

Over the course of three and a quarter miles these two titans of the staying division served up an outstanding contest and Native River’s abundant stamina reserves eventually enabled him to deny Might Bite a victory that he too would have richly deserved. This was the Gold Cup at its finest.

VICTORY

In victory, Britain’s champion jockey Richard Johnson bridged a gap of 18 years, having previously won the race on Looks Like Trouble in 2000, and Colin Tizzard finally got the Gold Cup that had been threatening to slip through his grasp. Two years ago Tizzard’s Cue Card fell at the third last when holding every chance in the race, Native River was a valiant third here 12 months ago and the trainer’s stable star Thistlecrack has been beset by setbacks which has kept him out of the line-up for the last two years.

Statistics were all against Native River, with 66 horses this century having failed to win the Gold Cup after being beaten on their first attempt. However, against that Native River had a record that inspired confidence. As a winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup and Welsh Grand Nationals his stamina was assured and on his first start since last year’s Gold Cup he cruised to victory at Newbury last month.

FRESH

Indeed it probably stood to Native River that he turned up here a fresh horse as this race promised to be a most exacting examination. In typically enthusiastic style the 5/1 shot went to the head of the field from the outset and he produced his usual round of bold and enthusiastic jumping.

At all stages he was tracked by the King George hero Might Bite who was looking to give Nicky Henderson an unprecedented clean sweep of the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother and the Gold Cup. Throughout the race the leading pair were faultless and it was clear from some way out that the remainder of the field would have their work cut out to play any meaningful role in the finish.

Total Recall was in the process of making a forward move when he crashed out at the third last and this left Djakadam, Road To Respect and Anibale Fly leading the chase, but none of them could ever quite bridge the gap to the leaders. As the front two faced up to the last two fences Might Bite was right upsides Native River and going well and he was possibly even ahead at one point.

RELENTLESS

From the last onwards though Native River was brave, relentless and determined as he began to edge away from a flagging rival. Might Bite could simply find no more in the closing stages and he went down by four and a half lengths. There was a further four lengths back to Tony Martin’s Anibale Fly with Road To Respect a good fourth.

“The fellow on top is worth a million,” exclaimed a ecstatic Tizzard in the immediate aftermath of this success. “It’s just unreal, the Cheltenham Gold Cup is everything to everybody and there’s just no point pretending otherwise. He had a wonderful prep and I was just waiting for something to go wrong in the race but it all went well. I have to say it just doesn’t get any better than this.”

“I’d love to be able to tell you that is was the plan to come here with just one run but it wasn’t. He had a little bit of check ligament trouble and I didn’t want him to have a season off so we got him in in August and he was ready to run at Christmas but Newbury was the race for him to go for ahead of this.”

Johnson, now a 23-time Cheltenham Festival winner, was winning his first championship race since Rooster Booster took the Triumph Hurdle in 1993.

“I’m speechless. I was lucky enough to pick up the ride on this horse a couple of years ago and he’s been fantastic for me. All this horse wants to do is please you and he just wants it so much,” reflected the rider.

HELL OF A RACE

“Might Bite ran a hell of a race too and I’d say that my horse has just outstayed him. They are two fine horses and I’m just delighted to have won the most important race in our calendar,” added Johnson.

Nicky Henderson was pleased with Might Bite’s effort and indicated that he may be left off for the remainder of the season to be aimed at a repeat success in King George next Christmas.

“Might Bite ran a terrific race but the ground just found him out from the last to the line.

“We’ve just tied up in the ground but he’s run a cracking race and I’m happy. The winner is a true champion to grind it out like that on the ground.”