Native River team want dry spell to allow racecourse gallop

The Dorset trainer reports the eight-year-old to be building nicely for a return to action after being absent since finishing third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

The Festival blue riband is again the prime objective.

"He's been galloping for over two months. He's fine. We'll probably still wait for the Denman and give him a racecourse gallop before then, when it dries up a bit," said Tizzard.

"There are not that many conditions races coming up before then. We did think about a hurdle race, but we'll wait for the Denman."

Native River is 12/1 with Sky Bet for the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup.

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