CHELTENHAM NEWS

Broom plays down Native River chances

Native River’s owner Garth Broom has downplayed his charge’s chances of featuring in the Magners Gold Cup at Cheltenham.

Beating both Bristol De Mai and Santini to win the rearranged Cotswold Chase at Sandown on Saturday, there had been suggestions Native River will be aimed at the Gold Cup.

However, with the wet winter and with the 11-year-old not getting any younger, Broom has downplayed Native River’s chances of running in the Gold Cup, while not ruling it out entirely.

Broom said: “Looking at the Gold Cup, you obviously have Al Boum Photo to beat, but I think Venetia Williams’ horse (Royale Pagaille) is the dark one. Any young horse who keeps winning and is clearly improving is always going to be a threat – if he runs of course.

“What I will say is that looking at Monkfish and Envoi Allen, next year’s Gold Cup looks very tough already!

“We’ve not got many miles on the clock, though. He might be 11, but we’ve always minded him because when they are running over three miles and more in heavy ground, they have hard races.”