Native River is on course to clash with last year’s first and second Santini and Bristol De Mai in Saturday’s Paddy Power ‘45 Sleeps To Cheltenham’ Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham.
A three-and-a-half lengths winner in 2019, Santini went on to finish second to Al Boum Photo in the Magners Cheltengam Gold Cup and was fifth in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase on his latest start this term.
Bristol De Mai won a memorable third Betfair Chase in November while 2018 Gold Cup hero Native River was third, beaten three lengths, behind Lake View Lad and Santini in the William Hill Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on his return.
Joe Tizzard, assistant trainer to his father Colin, reported: “We want to get another run into Native River and the Cotswold Chase looks ideal. He ran a blinder at Aintree and he still had every chance bypassing the last.
“He has run a really solid race. He is a good old boy and seems in great form at home. He had a little school under Jonjo O’Neill on Wednesday morning. It will be interesting to see what turns up in the race. I imagine Santini will be there and there wasn’t much between them last time.
“As he has got older, he is certainly more ground dependent. He could have got away with it when he was younger but it would need to be soft for him to run in a Gold Cup.”
Paddy Power '45 Sleeps To Cheltenham' Cotswold Chase – sponsors bet: 15/8 Santini, 5/2 Bristol de Mai, 7/2 Native River, 6 Saint Calvados, 8 Lake View Lad, 10 Yala Enki, 14 The Conditional, 16 Mister Malarky, 25 Yorkhill, 40 Lord du Mesnil
