COLIN IN A TIZZ OVER NATIVE
COLIN TIZZARD is desperate for a dry spell so Native River can have a racecourse gallop prior to a return to action in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury next month.
The eight-year-old has not been seen since finishing third in last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup behind Sizing John.
However, the Dorset trainer reports last year’s Welsh Grand National winner still has chasing’s blue riband as his prime objective.
“He’s been galloping for over two months,” said Tizzard. “He’s fine. We’ll probably still wait for the Denman and give him a racecourse gallop before then, when it dries up a bit.
“There are not that many conditions races coming up before then.
“We did think about a hurdle race, but we’ll wait for the Denman.”
Another leading Cheltenham contender waiting in the wings is Defi Du Seuil, trained by Philip Hobbs.
The gelding was unstoppable last term with seven wins including three Grade Ones.
On his reappearance, however, he was a well-beaten fourth to Lil Rockerfeller in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot in November.
“He’s in good form,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus. “We’ll see how he is at the end of the month or early February.”
His Ascot conqueror that day, Lil Rockerfeller, subsequently left his trainer Neil King scratching his head after a tame sixth behind Sam Spinner in the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot last month.
“Ascot was way below his best,” King said. “Nothing has come to light. He’s in good order now.
“There’s been an awful lot of horses running inconsistently, specifically over Christmas.
“Maybe it’s a case of them having harder races than we thought in heavy ground. They are allowed to have an off-day.”