Native River ruled out of Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National with injury

Native River has been ruled out for the season and will miss both the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup and Randox Health Grand National, it was announced on Wednesday morning.

Colin Tizzard reported to Weatherbys that the ten-year-old had been scratched from next month's Gold Cup, for which he was a general 10-1 shot, after picking up a tendon injury.

Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard said: "Unfortunately we have had to scratch Native River from the Gold Cup this morning. It's really disappointing but he's just had a little tear in the suspensory tendon at the back of his knee which is going to put him out for the rest of the season."

Native River famously won the Cheltenham Festival flagship race in 2018 when holding off the challenge of Might Bite and was being prepared by the Tizzards for a bid to reclaim his crown after winning both starts this season.

View the result and replay of Native River's 2018 Gold Cup win

Richard Johnson hugs Native River after the pair won the 2018 Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Michael Steele

But those hopes will have to wait after some soreness yesterday led to the assessment by a vet, which revealed the injury.

"He was a bit sore yesterday and again this morning so we went in and scanned it, and just one of those injuries that happen," said Tizzard. "It's very disappointing but that's horses."

However, the assistant trainer did offer some hope for Native River fans. Tizzard added: "He'll be back next season for sure. It's not something we've thought about yet as we haven't known long, we told the owners and it's all pretty fresh.

"We need to focus on getting him right. It's not a major injury and on a normal basis he'll be fine by Christmas next year."

View the card for the Cheltenham Gold Cup here

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