Native River can claim double

Going: Softheavy in places

behind Le Reve at Lingfield 3m 5f hcp chs 0-125 (3) sft in Feb.

2-1fav Always prominent, led 6th, headed 3 out, rallied and every chance next, no extra closing stages, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Chef D’Oeuvre at Haydock 3m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec. 12-1 Prominent, lost place 3rd, rallied 5 out, soon chasing leaders, every chance 3 out, wandered under pressure next, rallied again last, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 15, 2l behind Robinsfirth at Haydock 3m 4f hcp chs G3 (1) gd in Feb.

6-1 Always handy, challenged 4 out, led before 2 out, clear last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 3m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb beating Dancing Shadow by 6l, 15 ran. 7-1 Held up in mid-division, outpaced and lost place approaching 3 out, rallied and kept on well run-in, 4th of 16, 12l behind Lord Napier at Sandown 2m 7f hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft in Feb.

12-1 Held up mid-division, headway and blundered 15th, every chance when fell 2 out, in a race won by Crosspark at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb, 16 ran. 50-1 Chased leaders on outside, weakened 9th, soon lost touch, tailed off, 9th of 10, well behind Cyrname at Ascot 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gs in Jan. 14-1 Behind, driven and kept on from 2 out, went modest 4th and mistake last, 4th of 11, 9l behind Carole’s Destrier at Newbury 3m 2f Handicap Chase (0-150) (9yo+) (2) gs. 14-1 Mid-division, struggling 14th, weakened 3 out (usual 4 out), tailed off, 8th of 9, well behind Some Chaos at Wincanton 3m 1f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Feb.

4-5fav Led, clear at various stages, not fluent 4 out, headed before mistake 2 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 4, 18l behind Chef Des Obeaux at Chepstow 3m 2f nov chs (3) gs in Feb. 16-1 Chased leaders, led before 6th, jumped right 7 out, mistake and headed 4 out, soon weakened, 4th of 16, 7l behind Crosspark at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb. 11-2 Held up in last pair, closer 7th, tracked leaders 10th, 2nd 11th until next, chased leading pair, kept on same pace run-in, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Yalltari at Chepstow 3m nov hcp chs (3) sft in Dec.

18-1 Mid-division, headway 17th, went 3rd from 2 out, stayed on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 15, 8l behind Dawson City at Exeter 3m 7f hcp chs 0-135 (3) gs in Feb. 16-1 In touch on inside, chased leaders halfway, ridden approaching 4 out, kept on same pace after next, 3rd of 10, 15l behind Chef D’Oeuvre at Haydock 3m 3f hcp chs 0-145 (2) sft in Dec.

22-1 Towards rear, driven halfway, plugged on from 4 out, never dangerous, 7th of 16, 19l behind Crosspark at Newcastle 4m 1f hcp chs (2) gs in Feb. 16-1 Chased leaders, challenged 4 out, weakened before next, 3rd of 8, 27l behind Samuel Jackson at Taunton 3m 4f hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs. 33-1 Raced wide, chased leaders, lost place 7th, last pair when hampered 12th, struggling after, tailed off, 5th of 8, 24l behind Calipto at Ascot 3m hcp chs Listed (1) gs in Feb. 66-1 Mid-division, took keen hold, headway 6th, no impression from 3 out, mistake 2 out, 6th of 11, 23l behind Samburu Shujaa at Chepstow 3m hcp hdl (2) gs in Feb.

9-2fav Towards rear, headway after 3 out, ridden and no impression approaching last, kept on one pace, 7th of 20, 13l behind Sharjah at Galway 2m hcp hdl sft in Aug. 3-1fav Held up in touch, headway on outside before 3 out, led narrowly approaching next, ridden flat, ran on towards finish, won at Taunton 2m hcp hdl (2) gd in Feb beating Sternrubin by 1 1/2l, 14 ran. 20-1 Tracked leaders, challenged 7th, led next, hard pressed last, soon headed, stayed on, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Midnight Shadow at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Dec. 11-2 Raced keenly, soon chasing leaders, switched right going well before 2 out, went 2nd at the last, led run-in, driven out, won at Newbury 2m hcp hdl 0-140 (3) gs beating Champagne City by 3/4l, 11 ran. 5-2fav Led narrowly after 1st, headed after 3rd, remained close up on outside, chased winner after 3 out, ridden after next, no impression when not fluent and lost 2nd last, weakened flat, 3rd of 5, 12l behind Global Citizen at Haydock 2m hdl G2 (1) gs in Jan.

7-2 Held up in 6th, smooth headway on long run before 2 out, led 2 out, soon clear until approaching last, headed and no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 13, 1 1/4l behind Malaya at Sandown 2m hcp hdl Grade 3 (1) sft. NATIVE River is worth supporting in his bid to become the first horse since Best Mate to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in successive years.

Soft ground will bring Native

River’s stamina into play, just as it did 12 months ago when he outstayed Might Bite on the run-in to take chasing’s blue-riband prize by four and a half lengths.

He was put away for the season by trainer Colin Tizzard after that triumph, and it is fair to say he has not been at his best in both his runs so far this term.

After playing second fiddle to Bristol De Mai in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November, Native River

9-4fav Mid-division on outer, 6th halfway, headway 3 out and progress to lead next, pushed along approaching last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m hdl G2 (1) sft in Jan beating Bapaume by 1 1/4l, 11 ran. 2-5fav Tracked leaders, went 2nd 5th, closer 4 out, travelling well 2 out, good jump to lead last, quickened easily clear, won at Ascot 3m chs G2 (1) gs in Feb beating Terrefort by 11l, 4 ran. 9-2 In touch, headway 10th, outpaced 4 out, rallied after 2 out, stayed on run in, 3rd of 10, 14l behind Clan Des Obeaux at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec. 2-1 Led, mistake 7th, headed 9th, disputed briefly again next, disputed lead 3 out, headed entering straight, pushed along in 2nd approaching last, ridden at last, improved to dispute lead close home, led last strides, won at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) gd in Feb beating Road To Respect by shd, 4 ran. 8-1 Held up early, soon mid-division, swift progress to lead before 8th, pressed 5 out, joined before 2 out, led travelling best early straight, ridden last, kept on strongly run to go clear, won at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) gd in Dec beating Monalee by 8l, 11 ran. 15-2 Tracked leaders, headway to lead 14th, ridden after 3 out, headed approaching last, kept on, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Clan Des Obeaux at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.

2-1fav Prominent, soon 3rd, disputed lead briefly 10th, slight mistake 12th, led from 5 out, went on travelling smoothly 3 out, pressed and ridden after 2 out, asserted from before last where edged right briefly on landing, stayed on well, won at Tramore 2m 5f lst chs (1) sft in Jan beating Total Recall by 6l, 7 ran. 3-1fav Tracked leader, mistake 13th, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out, 7th of 10, 37l behind Clan Des Obeaux at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec. 13-2 Tracked leaders in 3rd, not fluent at 3rd, dropped to last at 8th, ridden 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, no impression on winner next, stayed on well run-in, not reach winner, 2nd of 4, 2l behind Monalee at Gowran Park 2m 4f chs Grd 2 (1) in Feb.

8-1 Tracked leaders, mistake 1st, fell 9th, in a race won by Clan Des Obeaux at Kempton 3m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 10 ran.

2-1fav Tracked winner, mistake 11th, slow 14th, lost 2nd next, outpaced after 3 out, rallied before last, stayed on to close on winner flat, held close home, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Frodon at Cheltenham 3m 1f chs Grd 2 (1) gs in Jan. 4-1fav Tracked leaders, 6th halfway, headway 4 out, went 2nd and slight mistake next, mistake 2 out, pushed along and led last, ridden and kept on well run-in, won at Gowran Park 3m 1f hcp chs sft in Jan beating Alpha Des Obeaux by 1 1/4l, 18 ran. 6-1 Mid-division, closer in 4th before 2 out, slight mistake 2 out, soon lost position, ridden and no extra entering straight, 10th of 11, 34l behind Kemboy at Leopardstown 3m chs G1 (1) gd in Dec. 1-6fav Led, pushed along after 3 out, joined next, soon headed, switched right before last, edged left flat, unable to get back on terms, last of 2, 2l behind Captain Redbeard at Kelso 2m 7f chs (2) gd in Feb. found the three miles at Kempton an inadequate test.

He never got into a challenging position, but he did stay on in the closing stages to take third place behind Clan Des Obeaux in the King George.

The latter is seen as a threat to Native River retaining his crown, but there will be more in the champion’s favour this time.

Presenting Percy last jumped a fence in competitive action when winning the RSA Chase at last year’s Festival. His only run since came in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran in January, which he won convincingly, but it is asking a lot of Pat Kelly’s charge to see off the best staying chasers without proper match Jonjo O’Neill Jr. 147

... ......................................................................................R A Doyle — 3 232 IF YOU SAY RUN (27) P Nicholls 7 11-6 (BF) .............. Bryony Frost 150 4 25P MR ANTOLINI (41) N Twiston-Davies 9 11-5 .....................J Nailor 150 5 237 GETAREASON (41) W P Mullins (IRE) 6 11-5 ................L P Gilligan 150 6 211 DALLAS DES PICTONS (40) G Elliott (IRE) 6 11-5 (D) ...... D Meyler 146 7 152 COOLANLY (24) F O’Brien 7 11-5 (BF, C) ..............................C Brace 153 8 R22 STYLE DE GARDE (37) N Henderson 5 11-5 (BF) ............... N Curtis 149 9 320 DEFI BLEU (41) G Elliott (IRE) 6 11-4 (D) .......................... C Brassil 146 10 221 PYM (46) N Henderson 6 11-3 ......................................... R Patrick 151 11 161 DAYBREAK BOY (64) H De Bromhead (IRE) 6 11-3 (D) ... D J McInerney 145 12 465 GARO DE JUILLEY (24) Mrs S Leech 7 11-3 ............Sean Houlihan 156 13 332 DISCORDANTLY (33) Mrs J Harrington (IRE) 5 11-3 (BF) ........C Orr 156 14 560 CARTWRIGHT (41) G Elliott (IRE) 6 11-2 .............. Fergus Gregory 145 15 0-2 MOUNT MEWS (61) D McCain 8 11-2 .................... D McMenamin — 16 211 BIG TIME DANCER (62) Jennie Candlish 6 10-13 ...Ross Chapman 149 17 501 LE MUSEE (39) N Hawke 6 10-11 ................................... T Buckley 149 18 214 NOT THAT FUISSE (20) D Skelton 6 10-10 ......... William Marshall 150 19 632 SAKHEE’S CIT Y (25) P Kirby 8 10-9 ...............................T Dowson 149 20 211 DOCTOR DEX (23) T R George 6 10-8 ............................ L Williams 143 21 123 BURROWS PARK (27) Miss V Williams 7 10-7 (D) .......... H Nugent 150 22 -52 CASA TALL (20) T R George 5 10-7 .................................... K Edgar 152 23 506 KAPGARRY (62) N Twiston-Davies 6 10-6 (D) .............. S Sheppard 151 24 553 CHAMPAGNE COURT (25) J Scott 6 10-5 (BF) .................. R Dingle 155 BETTING: 4 Dallas Des Pictons, 7 Early Doors, 8 Cartwright, 10 Pym, 12 Defi Bleu, 14 Discordantly, Getareason, Acapella Bourgeois, 16 Others. practice. Sir Erec has been all the rage for the JCB Triumph Hurdle - but he might just find the battlehardened Quel Destin too tough a rival on what will be only his third start over jumps.

Paul Nicholls has campaigned Quel Destin with gusto, and the Frenchbred gelding has delivered in his last five starts - including at this track in November - after finishing second on his British debut.

Quel Destin usually just does enough and finds more when tackled at the business end of his races.

Lisnagar Oscar has shown progressive form through the season, and could be the answer to a typically trappy Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.