NEWBURY

FOR many years, Colin Tizzard was a Dorset farmer who happened to do rather well with a small team of racehorses. Now he is a top-flight trainer carrying all before him and his treble on Hennessy day at Newbury on Saturday will live long in the memory.

There was the brilliant Thistlecrack but the highlight was Native River’s refusal to give best in the Hennessy Gold Cup - a powerhouse display of relentless galloping, allied to a willingness to battle back when challenged and then hold on with the prize nearly his. It was champion jockey Richard Johnson’s first victory in the famous old race and his delight was plain to see.

Hennessy have been loyal sponsors for 60 years and it was a chaser of the old school who saw them off in style in this final renewal. Native River stays a good deal further than three and a quarter miles and Johnson was always going to ride him for stamina, forcing the pace in company with Double Ross, who was disinclined to let him have it all his own way.

When Double Ross took over again three from home, other horses were travelling at least as well as Native River, with Blaklion keeping on into a challenging position and Carole’s Destrier trying hard to get on terms, despite a mistake two out. At this point Johnson coaxed a fine leap from the winner, who went clear with the race seemingly won.

CONCENTRATION

However, the jockey needed to maintain maximum concentration because Carole’s Destrier kept on to such good effect that the margin was only half a length at the line. Then came Double Ross, who ran a magnificent race for a 50/1 chance, the staying on Hadrian’s Approach and Blaklion, followed by Vyta Du Roc and last year’s winner Smad Place, far from disgraced under a daunting 11st 12lb.

Native River, a model of consistency, was backed down to 7/2 favourite on the off. He had beaten three of these rivals at Aintree and confirmed the form, hinting in the process that a tilt at the Gold Cup might be optimistic but no means foolish. He is a grand stamp of horse, a credit to his trainer and was ridden by a man at the very peak of his powers.

“Richard rode him brilliantly,’’ Tizzard said. “I didn’t like the idea of bullying him all the way and I was surprised by how well he was travelling. If you win a Hennessy you are usually right up there with the best of them. If he is in the same sort of form in March he could join the team in the Gold Cup.’’

Johnson had twice finished second in the Newbury feature and was ending a wait going back 18 years.

“It’s always nice to win one you haven’t before,’’ he said with a smile.

“He’s a fantastic horse and Colin and his team are in amazing form. Turning in I was a bit worried because he wasn’t going all that well but he’s one of those where the more you ask, the more he gives.’’

The ‘sharpener’ in the bet365 Hurdle at Wetherby turned out to be exactly the right preparation, just as Tizzard senior said at the time, while he also mentioned the Hennessy as the main target immediately after Native River had won the novices’ chase on this card 12 months ago. He won it this time with Thistlecrack, of course.

“I’ve got all the toys at the moment,’’ he said. “The horses have come to me, I haven’t found them and I don’t know how many I’ll have in the Gold Cup.’’

Betfair made him a 6/4 chance to saddle the winner of the blue riband, while he is no bigger than 4/1 in places to be champion trainer.