Tizzards positive

JOE TIZZARD rates Native River the likely winner of next month’s Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Assistant trainer Joe and his father Colin decide on Sunday if Cue Card will join Native River and have a third crack at the Gold Cup.

He also has an entry in the Ryanair Chase, the race he won in 2013, and which is the target for another Tizzard runner, Fox Norton.

Joe, right, won 10 races on Cue Card before retiring from the saddle, but is prepared to be disloyal.

“If I was still riding I would pick Native River,” said Tizzard. “The Gold Cup has been the plan this season.

“His prep run at Newbury (earlier in the month) could not have gone more perfectly.”

In last season’s Gold Cup Native River lost nothing in defeat when third behind Sizing John, beaten two-and-three-quarter lengths. “He does not have to find much on last year’s Gold Cup running,” said Tizzard. “He did not jump as well as he can. I don’t know if it was the track or the hard races before Cheltenham.” Native River is generally a 6-1 chance with Cue Card at 20s, behind Might Bite, the 3-1 favourite. His father, Colin, put in a good word for their RSA Chase hope Elegant Escape. He said: “He’s got the closest any horse has got to Samcro (the Irish banker for the Ballymore Hurdle at the Festival) when they met in an Irish point. “He’s a beautiful young horse and beat Black Corton at Newbury. “At the moment we’re leaning towards the RSA, but if a top Irish amateur was available we might go for the National Hunt Chase.”