Go Native: has qualified for a pop at the £1 million bonus offered by WBX
PICTURE: Mark CranhamGo Native bids to land festival win in a million
THE Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle dominates the first day of the Cheltenham Festival - and the prospect of finding answers to arguably the meeting’s most complex form puzzle is as alluring as the great roar of unleashed anticipation when the cavalry charge of the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle field gets under way.
With nine of the twelve runners priced up by bookmakers at 12-1 or less, the Champion Hurdle is expected to be one of the most competitive races at this year’s festival.
For the connections of Go Native, the Champion Hurdle favourite, there is more at stake than the resolution of a puzzler or the glory of winning one of the festival showpieces.
Winner of the Supreme Novices' last season, Go Native has qualified for a pop at the £1 million bonus offered by WBX by winning the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and the Christmas Hurdle. Victory at Cheltenham on Tuesday would ensure a windfall for owners, trainer and stable staff.
Trainer Noel Meade said on Monday: "The horse travelled over great and is in great shape. In fact I couldn't be happier with him. He looked great this morning and cantered on the track. He was nice and fresh.
"He went to Dundalk last Tuesday and the work he did was super. Paul [Carberry] said he couldn't have asked for him to be any better than he was. He is a very good jumper and he has plenty of toe."
While Paul Carberry’s stated intention of producing Go Native late has been upset by Cheltenham’s decision to move the final flight 70 yards closer to the line, his build-up has been almost flawless in comparison to Solwhit, whose very participation was almost ended after a dirty scope last week.
Trainer Charles Byrnes said on Monday: "Because of what happened last week our confidence is not what it was. We could certainly have done without it.
"But he scoped clean on Saturday, and he has seemed in good form since he arrived in Cheltenham in the early hours of Sunday.
"We are going to have our vet check him out in the morning, but he isn't a horse who ever needs much work, so the fact he missed some work last week isn't a huge concern."
He added: "He's the quickest jumper of hurdles I've trained and he stays well. Go Native is the speed horse and will be hard to beat, but if our fellow performs to his best then we might outstay him. But it is all a bit of a guessing game becauseof last week's events."
GET AN ADVANTAGE AT CHELTENHAM: For the benefits of Members' Club Ultimate during festival week, buy your 7-day pass NOW
Comments