Cheltenham Festival 2021: Colin Tizzard stable tour and Gold Cup runners

Joe Tizzard is hopeful of a bold show from tough and consistent chaser Native River in the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The 11-year-old won the race in 2018, either side of his third (2017) and fourth places (2019).

Ruled out last year with a tendon injury, the veteran has been campaigned sparingly since his biggest success at Prestbury Park.

He rolled back the years with a determined victory in last month's Virgin Bet Cotswold Chase, which was switched to Sandown from Cheltenham.

At the time the Tizzards had just emerged from a 44-day winless run, which made the performance extra special.

"They say the best horses always get you out of a pickle and he was a winner we were waiting for in the Cotswold Chase," said Joe Tizzard.

"He’s been absolutely bombproof for the past two years to be fair to him. He was 2-2 then tweaked a tendon last year.

"He ran a good race at Aintree and then Sandown really ticked a lot of boxes for him. He’s the highest rated staying chaser in England I think and he deserves that."

Native River is 14-1 with Paddy Power to repeat his triumph of three years ago, while stablemate Lostintranslation is 33-1 with the same firm.

The nine-year-old has not recaptured his best since finishing third in the 2020 renewal.

"It just hasn’t happened this year for some reason," Tizzard said.

"I think in the Denman (Chase, fifth on February 21) it was purely down to fitness as he blew so hard afterwards.

"I think the run has sharpened him up a treat and he’s having a hard couple of weeks at home now to make sure he’s fully fit. He wouldn’t mind the ground drying out and he goes well in the spring.

"I think he’s going in the right direction. He proved he liked it last year and he proved it the year before when second in what is now the Marsh Novices' Chase."

Colin Tizzard stable tour

The Big Breakaway – Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

We think he’s a very talented horse. He finished fourth despite not travelling particularly well at Cheltenham last year.

He travelled much better when he won there first time out this season and we wanted to get experience into him going back to the Festival. And looking to next year too he’ll be into the big league.

The Exeter defeat was, initially, very frustrating as we went with an odds-on horse, but we dissected it a bit and we’ve moved on from it.

We had to go back to basics in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase and Dan’s horse (Skelton, Shan Blue) got a march on him.

Hopefully it was the making of the horse and hopefully we can ride him in third or fourth at Cheltenham rather than make it.

I don’t think he’s done an awful lot wrong. He’s won around Cheltenham, he’s been second in a Grade One and he’s maturing all the time. I’m sure him time will come.

We think an awful lot of him and I’d be wary of writing him off too soon.

It went down to the wire whether to run in the Reynoldstown but we felt we’d keep him for Cheltenham, hopefully Kempton taught him more than he’s learnt from the rest of his career.

It tucked him up a bit and made him a bit light so we didn’t want to run again close to the Festival.

Fiddlerontheroof – Brown Advisory Novices' Chase

He was a Grade One two mile novice hurdle winner (last season) when he probably outstayed everything on the day.

He’s been second a lot in good company this season and stepping him up to three miles last time was fine, we think the further he goes the better he’ll be.

He’s got some high-class form. Monkfish has looked amazingly impressive but it’s Cheltenham and it’s not going to be easy.

I don’t think the ground is an issue for him whatever it might be, which is the case with The Big Breakaway too.

Eldorado Allen – Grand Annual

He’s got four entries. He’s a Grade two winner around Cheltenham this year but I think we may end up going handicapping with him.

Shishkin beat him quite well last time at Doncaster and we’re leaning towards the Grand Annual. A fast-run two miles around there should play to his strengths.

Reserve Tank – Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

I was very pleased with yesterday’s run (fifth in National Spirit Hurdle). He jarred himself up a little bit last year but he’s a horse that comes very good in the spring.

We haven’t been able to get away for a gallop and we used Fontwell as a stepping stone. I thought he was staying on strongly and the next few days are crucial to see how he comes out of it.

I don’t think we’d have anything to lose in a Stayers’ Hurdle and there’s Aintree too.

He’s got some high-class form.

Sizing At Midnight – Kim Muir

I think he’ll run in the Kim Muir. He disappointed on horrible ground at Wincanton but he’s a good ground horse. Hopefully it was just fitness last time on the ground.

Striking A Pose – Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

He won very well at Exeter and he’s a three mile point to point winner. He might got for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle or the EBF Final the week before.

It’s an ongoing conversation between us and the owners and we’ve kept the option open. We won the Albert Bartlett with Kilbricken Storm and this horse has been just as impressive.

Copperhead – Pertemps Network Final

He’s got the Pertemps option but it will probably come too quickly for him I suspect so he might not go and in general we’ll have a select team this year.

Source: Read Full Article