Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FLOWING RIVER TO DELIVER
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3 1 NATIVE RIVER 2 CLAN DES OBEAUX 3 CLONDAW CASTLE
NATIVE RIVER is the selection to give his trainer Colin Tizzard (right), who is saddling runners at his final Grand National meeting, an emotional and popular victory.
The 11-year-old has been an outstanding servant to the Venn Farm stable in Dorset, which Tizzard’s son Joe will take charge of in the summer.
Since capturing the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase over course and distance five years ago, Native River has performed with distinction against the best — none more so than when beating Might Bite by four and a half lengths in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March 2018.
Prevented by injury from running in chasing’s blue riband in 2020, Native River revived winning form from Bristol De Mai in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase at Sandown at the start of February before an honourable – albeit 30-length – fourth to Minella Indo in the Cheltenham Festival feature 20 days ago, with
Aso eighth.
The drying ground went against my selection – ridden today by Jonjo O’neill jnr after Richard Johnson’s retirement on Saturday – that day, and this veteran is still a force to be reckoned with.
Clan Des Obeaux, who wears cheekpieces, is respected as a dual King George VI Chase hero, while Waiting Patiently is finding it hard to win.
Two-time Grand National winner Tiger Roll
is almost certainly a better horse away from ‘park’ tracks, but Clondaw Castle
put up a personal best in a win at Kempton recently and has podium claims.
NEWSBOY’S 1-2-3 1 JASON THE MILITANT 2 SONG FOR SOMEONE 3 BUVEUR D’AIR
JASON THE MILITANT, representing the in-form trainer-jockey combination at Cheltenham last month, should appreciate the opportunity to tackle two and a half miles for the first time.
The winner of a Grade 2 event at Naas for Rachael Blackmore as a novice hurdler in February of last year, Henry de Bromhead’s seven-year-old warmed up for the current campaign with a success on the Flat at Fairyhouse in October.
Returning to his ‘day’ job 29 days later, Jason The Militant ran third to Aspire Tower, a short head behind runner-up Abacadabras, in the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal.
And he was again closely
matched with today’s rival when third, beaten a neck and a short head, in the toplevel Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November, in which Abacadabras gained a gritty victory.
Jason The Militant was back to winning form in the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle over two miles at Fairyhouse on his latest start, and the additional four furlongs here represent a big plus. The trip should also help Song For Someone, while Mcfabulous and
Brewin’upastorm are closely matched on their running in the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell.
Buveur D’air has had injury issues since winning two Champion Hurdles but isn’t written off after bypassing this year’s race, in which Abacadabras fell and
Not So Sleepy returned in fifth, one place ahead of
Silver Streak.