Nicky Henderson looking forward to Native River rematch with Might Bite

Watch video analysis of the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup won by Native River at Prestbury Park on Friday and Nico De Boinville's interview following Might Bite's defeat.

Nicky Henderson is looking forward to taking on Native River again on better ground with Might Bite after the two horses produced a vintage set-to in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday.

The two horses duelled at the front end for much of the 3m 2 1/2f of the blue riband event but Native River powered clear up the run-in to win by four and half lengths, with Irish raider Anibale Fly running an eye-catching Grand National trial in third.

Might Bite had never run over obstacles on going with heavy in the description and providing he can recuperate in time after what is surely the hardest race of his 15-race career there is an outside chance he could even reappear once again at Aintree next month.

“We have to accept the defeat, but we are still proud of him,” Henderson said.

“It has been a great week, but it is a pity when it is run on ground like this because it changes things.

“It was nice to see an English one-two – that is about the rarest thing in the week.

“We’ve got four weeks so let’s see. He did it on three weeks last year but he didn’t have a hard race last year.

“Aintree could be different this year, because I can see the Irish horses staying at home for Punchestown. On good ground I would be quite happy to take the winner on again. I wouldn’t say no.”

It was the third time that the master of Seven Barrows had saddled a placed horse in the Gold Cup without winning after Long Run’s two third-placed efforts in 2012 and 2013, and the champion trainer was proud of his defeated 4-1 favourite.

“His jumping was very slick all the way,” he added.

Might Bite, Native River and RSA Chase winner Prsenting Percy vie for favouritism for the 2019 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Racingfotos)

“He was just holding his position there upsides. It was the right thing to do. It was a very good two-horse race from a long way out. We said we would wait until we turn in.

“You have to hang on a bit here. He hung on, he had his chance and it didn’t go right.

“He didn’t shirk it, and he didn’t want to know where I was. It was a mixture of disappointment and pride. I’m very proud of him.”

Nico De Boinville also spoke in glowing terms at Might Bite’s performance in th unsuitable ground, and saluted Native River’s grit.

“The rain came at the wrong moment for us. He has run a cracking race. That is taking nothing away from the winner - he is a true champion to have ground it out on that going. Colin Tizzard fully deserves it and the ground found us out from the last to the line.

"I think we got our head in front winging the last and then the ground on that track is the worst from the last to the line and we just tied up on it - pure and simple."

When asked whether there was anything else he could have done he replied: “In hindsight I don’t think I could have done more. If I had kicked sooner I think we would have been beaten further. If I had waited longer, who knows? It is not a question I would like to ask.”

Might Bite has raced only three times this season, having opened his account at Sandown with an eight-length bating of Frodon in November before he took apart the King George field at Kempton on Boxing Day in December.

If Might Bite does not have another outing this season Henderson confirmed the Christmas showpiece will once again be the early season target.

Might Bite is a best-priced 7-1 for next year's Gold Cup, with Native River 8-1 with Betway. RSA Chase winner Presenting Percy is the general 6-1 favourite.