Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup report: Gold Cup glory for Native River

Third in the race won by Sizing John 12 months ago, 5/1 shot Native River was a relatively fresh horse this time around and after setting a searching gallop, the eight-year-old stayed on relentlessly to comfortably beat 4/1 favourite Might Bite.

Anibale Fly ran a huge race for Irish trainer Tony Martin, staying on to fill third at 33/1 while fourth went to Noel Meade's Road To Respect.

After drawing a blank at last year's meeting despite securing nine Grade One wins throughout the 2016/17 campaign, Tizzard opened his account for the 2018 Festival when Kilbricken Storm caused a shock in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, but there was no shock about Native River's triumph.

He had a brilliant time last year, winning the Hennessy Gold Cup and Coral Welsh National en route to his third at Cheltenham, and after suffering a setback in the autumn the Tizzards opted to hang fire and wait for a spring campaign.

Things looked rosy ahead of his bid to go two places better in the big one when he returned to action with a bloodless 12-length victory in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury in February - another race he landed in a stellar season last year - and that prep run put him spot on for Gold Cup day.

Johnson took the bull by the horns from flagfall, his popular mount jumping brilliantly at the head of affairs as Nico de Boinville stalked him on Nicky Henderson's King George hero Might Bite.

The pair had most of their rivals in trouble coming down the hill, really locking horns approaching two out and after taking the last as one, Native River was briefly headed for a couple of strides but found most on the run-in to score by by four and a half lengths.

Johnson was claiming his second Gold Cup win, 18 years on from Looks Like Trouble's victory for trainer Noel Chance in 2000, while it was Tizzard's first Gold Cup success.

Johnson said: "I'm speechless. He's been a fantastic horse for me and I was lucky to pick up the ride on him. He's just amazing. He jumps for fun. I was getting squeezed, but at the second-last and the last he just wanted it so much.

"I knew Nico (de Boinville, on Might Bite) was there and to be fair to Might Bite, he's run a hell of race, but I think we just outstayed him. They are two very brave horses. Eighteen years (since Looks Like Trouble) seems a long time!"

Sky Bet make Native River the 5/1 favourite for the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup, a point shorter than Might Bite and Wednesday's RSA Chase winner Presenting Percy.

Tizzard said: "It's unreal. The Cheltenham Gold Cup is everything in everyone's life and there's no pretending it's not. Richard Johnson was galloping as fast as he could and jumping as fast as he could all the time and the horse never let him down once.

"Might Bite came to him and I thought that was it, but he just powered away again.

"We've had a wonderful preparation with him, so you think something's going to go wrong in the race, but it didn't. His form has gone on from last year. I can't believe it. It doesn't get better, does it?"

Tizzard's son and assistant, Joe, said: "Dicky (Johnson) gave him a fantastic ride. It looked like Might Bite was going to maybe outclass him, but he's a tough, honest horse - he's unbelievable.

"All credit to Dicky, he set the fractions."

De Boinville was gracious in defeat, saying: "The rain just came at the wrong time for us. He ran a cracking race, though, and take nothing away from the winner there. He's a true champion, he ground it out on that ground.

"Colin Tizzard fully deserves it bringing that horse back from such a long lay off and producing him like that. Our lad ran a terrific race and the ground just found us out from the last to the line.

"I think we got our head in front winging the last and then the ground on that track is the worst from the last to the line and we just tied up on it - pure and simple."

Henderson said: "Briefly I thought he was going to do it, because he can quicken, but the worst ground on the course is after the last. He put his head down and fought all the way. His jumping was great, it was the right thing to track Native River because no other horse got into the race, he had to be in the right place.

"I think on better ground stamina wouldn't have been an issue, but in that ground you have to work so much harder. The winner is a Welsh National winner and the reason I've never won that race is because I can't find horses that go in that ground.

"Possibly he's gone up in many people's expectations for getting beaten today. It's great for Colin and great for Dicky. It was a great race and just nice to see a British one-two after this week!"

He went on: "We're proud of him, his jumping was fantastic. I'm not sure about Aintree, he's had a hard race there but there is four weeks between the two this year and he's had only two real races this season. We'll let him tell us."

Tony Martin was thrilled with the performance of Anibale Fly.

He said: "We're all delighted with him. He ran a lovely race at Christmas and we thought he was definitely a horse with a chance for the Irish Gold Cup and here. Unfortunately he was a bit disappointing last time, but he's bounced back and run a blinder and any day you're third in the Gold Cup is a good run.

"I'd say he's come across two good ones today, but he's run a blinder. He's my only runner in Cheltenham this year. We're just low on horses and we've been very quiet for the last few years, but hopefully we'll come back stronger. We'll get him home and see how he is in two weeks. We'll see if there's anything for him then in a month to six weeks."

Road To Respect was fourth for Noel Meade, who said: "He's run well, he probably didn't jump as slick as he usually does, but that might have been down to the ground. He missed the third-last and that could have knocked the stuffing out of him.

"He's only seven and better ground would help. It's too early to say definitely Punchestown, but if he's well he might."

The Willie Mullins-trained Djakadam has finished second in two Gold Cups and was fourth in last year's renewal. He was run out of the places this time, finishing fifth under the trainer's son, Patrick.

Mullins junior said: "He gave me a great spin, it's just unfortunate he's not getting any younger. He jumped and travelled. If you could ride him every year it'd be great."

Bachasson unseated Danny Mullins at the second fence, while Our Duke and Saphir De Rheu were pulled up and Total Recall came down three out.

Johnson was banned for seven days and fined £6,550 after being found guilty of misusing his whip during the course of his Gold Cup victory.

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