Jockey Richard Johnson’s joy at Native River’s Cotswold Chase success

Richard Johnson on how Native River helped define his career

“He hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm, that’s for sure,” said Johnson after the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner galloped his rivals into the ground.

Yet the same could also be said for the 43-year-old former champion jockey who had told The Yorkshire Post on Saturday that winning big races on horse as talented as Native River continued to motivate him.

He was as good as his word – this triumph was the highlight of a Johnson treble which began with Grade One success on the novice chaser Sporting John and ended with Deise Aba prevailing in a handicap chase.

But it was the sight of Garth and Anne Broom’s Native River attacking his fences with such gusto, and seeing off his rivals in the home straight, that was so stirring for steeplechasing aficionados.

Winter jump racing at its best, the performance was good enough to put Native River on course for next month’s Gold Cup – especially if the ground at Cheltenham proves to be demanding.

Johnson had been happy to let Yala Enki set the pace on the first circuit before taking the lead as the field headed into the back straight for the second time.

Soon Native River’s greatest assets – accurate jumping over the three quickfire Railway Fences and sustained gallop in heavy ground – were leaving his high class rivals on the back foot.

And while Bristol De Mai, a multiple Grade One winner, did narrow the gap on the turn for home, Johnson had time to enjoy the jump over the last – photos showed a smile of satisfaction etched across the face as Native River took the obstacle.

“He’s a good boy, and he suits me. He felt really well, and felt really well at Aintree. The one thing he loves is his jumping,” said the winning jockey after this authoritative nine-and-a-half-length win.

“A hard slog around here is right up his street. He hasn’t lost any of his enthusiasm, that’s for sure.

“He jumped the Railway fences really well and again got into a nice rhythm – and we know he stays really well and he handles the conditions. It was a fantastic effort.”

It was also a popular win for the Colin Tizzard stable who are just returning to winning ways after a lean spell by their own standards.

Yet the popular Dorset farmer-cum-trainer is also coming to terms with the loss of his daughter Kim Gengell, an integral member of this family operation, to cancer last May at a tragically young age.

And it explains why Tizzard’s son and assistant Joe was initially lost for words after Native River had crossed the line.

Paying fulsome tribute to all those who are standing by the stable, and family, after such a traumatic year, he was just pleased to see Native River vindicating the faith shown by others.

“He’s tough as they come and he’s never lost his enthusiasm,” he reflected.

“He had really come to himself the last couple of weeks – and as he has got older, he has perhaps lost half a gear, so the ground probably helps him.

“He’s won a Welsh National and stays particularly strongly, so when he gets his conditions he takes a bit of pegging back.”

Native River has run just seven times since his Gold Cup win, but has remained very consistent at the highest level nonetheless.

“This means a lot,” Tizzard admitted as he reflected on the race. “He’s our main flag-bearer and he’s done nothing wrong in the last five years – he just keeps producing.

“He is a lovely chap in the stable, and the Gold Cup has always been the plan. This was the prep run for it.”

He added: “The way things have been for the last six weeks to two months, I was never that confident.

“When the horses aren’t quite performing, it leaves its mark.

“From being a quite positive person you start doubting everything. We’ve been telling the owners for a few weeks that the horses have been coming right but you need it to happen. We needed a bit of luck.”

They also deserved it too.

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