Go Native for some Gold Cup glory

NATIVE RIVER is perhaps not a fashionable horse but he looks a rocksolid selection to deliver the goods in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The seven-year-old contested the four-mile National Hunt Chase at this meeting last season and while his second was more than respectable, his subsequent Grade One victory over three miles and a furlong in the Mildmay at Aintree showed his sights should be set a little higher this term.

Colin Tizzard’s decision to give him a warm-up over hurdles at Wetherby in October proved most shrewd as Native River was primed to the moment for the Hennessy, in which he posted an excellent performance to see off Carole’s Destrier by half a length.

The penalty he picked up for that success saw him saddled with 11st 12lb in the Welsh National, but that proved no bar to success as he easily held Raz De Maree to put himself in the Cheltenham frame. CHARLI PARCS let down his supporters when crashing out at Kempton last time, but he can make amends for those that keep the faith in the JCB Triumph Hurdle.

Nicky Henderson’s charge was odds on to supplement a previous win at the Sunbury venue but he was struggling a fair way out that day, before starting to come back on the bridle approaching the penultimate flight.

Unfortunately he got that obstacle all wrong and his race was over, but he looked likely to put up a good challenge to the reopposing winner Master Blueyes before his mishap.

Barry Geraghty was of the opinion that Charli Parcs was gearing up for a good run and while it was hardly an ideal prep, Charli Parcs still makes plenty of appeal, particularly if the ground remains on the better side.

Death Duty has seemed invincible this term but AUGUSTA

KATE can steal his thunder in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.

The pair clashed in a Grade One heat at Naas back in January and Augusta Kate was travelling noticeably well in behind before she got the last all wrong, just as she was gearing up to lay down her challenge.

Obviously you can only guess at what might have happened, but she looked to be far from spent before her mistake cost her dearly.

SELECTIONS:

CHELTENHAM: 1.30 Charli Parcs, 2.10 North Hill Harvey, 2.50 Augusta Kate, 3.30 NATIVE RIVER (NAP), 4.10 Wonderful Charm, 4.50 Dadsintrouble, 5.30 Velvet Maker.

LINGFIELD: 1.10 Little Kipling, 1.45 Gold Flash, 2.25 Here And Now, 3.05 Petite Jack, 3.45 Gunmaker, 4.25 Baby Gal. DOUBLE: Native River and Augusta Kate.