The Cheltenham Gold Cup contestants list just lost a name after Native River has been ruled out of the upcoming Gold Cup event due to a sustained injury.
Native River is set to spend a spell in recovery after sustaining a suspensory tendon injury, which arrives at a poor time for the horse with a number of highly sort after events shortly approaching.
Cheltenham Festival is quickly approaching with the opening day of the festival taking place on the 10th March and the Grand National follows shortly after on the 4th April.
Native River’s trainer, Colin Trizzard had spoken highly of the Cheltenham Gold Cup 2018 winners chances of winning his second Gold Cup race after a promising season. So far this season, Native River has won both of his two runs that he has competed in which includes his win at Newbury Racecourse in the Denman Chase.
Native River’s recent win in the Denman’s Chase makes him the most successful horse to compete in this Grade 2 National Hunt steeplechase, with three race wins on his record (2017, 2018, 2020).
Not only will Native River miss the upcoming Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival, but he will also have to be sidelined for the Grand National too.
Champion jockey, Richard Johnson was set to ride Native River at the Grand National looking to improve his fourth-place finish at the previous Gold Cup after the jockey had returned to form and was in good shape to compete.
This would not be Richard Johnson’s first time riding Native River, with the successful jockey winning the 2018 Denman’s Chase with Native River.
Despite the loss of Native River, Colin Trizzard still has hopes in his horse Lostintranslation who will be competing at the 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Lostintranslation emerged the victor in 2019 at the Betfair Chase event, which is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase that features 19 fences across the 3 miles and 1 ½ furlong course.
