The Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on Saturday is a fitting memorial for the winner of the 2015 Grand National. The Grade 2 contest is the intended target for Native River and Might Bite, two horse which produced a tremendous battle in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last year. Native River prevailed in that race, finishing four and a half lengths ahead of Might Bite in second place.
Both horses have been dropped a level and online bookmakers are paying around +162.5 for Native River to beat Might Bite again. If the ground at Aintree is not too fast, then Native River runs and the clash is on. The horse has not won in three starts at Grade 1 level since winning the Gold Cup, while Might Bite is trying to get his career back on track after some poor efforts.
Many Clouds lost his life after the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January 2017. The horse was owned by Sir Trevor Hemmings, who also won the National with Hedgehunter (2005) and Ballabriggs (2011). The Lancastrian businessman also owns Vintage Clouds, who fell at the first fence when well backed in the National this April. The horse is entered at Aintree on Saturday.
Vintage Clouds is the second favourite for the Becher Chase. One For Arthur has winning form over the National fences to win the race, as the 2016 National winner has raced over the unique fences twice and completed the course on each occasion. Meanwhile, Un De Sceaux is trying to become the oldest winner of the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown, although Defi Du Seuil will be tough to beat.
The 2018 Gold Cup developed into a showdown between Native River and Might Bite that was only decided after the final fence. Might Bite appeared to come to win the race but was outstayed up the hill by the winner. The soft ground suited Native River and the result could have been different on a faster surface. Might Bite has not been the same horse since losing that battle.
Native River is trained by Colin Tizzard, who is happy with his horse ahead of the Aintree race.
“I'd say it looks the right race for him. He won there as a novice so it will be good to take him back. It looks a good race, with Might Bite in there it's like the Gold Cup again,” Tizzard said in the Racing Post last week.
Saturday's run will give Tizzard food for thought. Native River could go down the Grade 1 route or run in the Welsh Grand National if he needs further. The horse is aged nine and is still good enough to take in the big conditions chases or lucrative handicaps. Native River can be backed at +2500 to win the 2020 Grand National. L'Escargot was the last horse to complete the Gold Cup/Grand National double by winning the National in 1975.
Might Bite has become a bit of a conundrum. The horse put in a sparkling winning performance in the Betfair Bowl at Aintree three weeks after last year's Gold Cup, beating Bristol De Mai by seven lengths off level weights. The horse ran in the three most important chases last season. He was unplaced and well off the pace in the Betfair Chase and King George and was pulled up in the Gold Cup. Might Bite's career high Racing Post Rating (RPR) is 173 and Native River's best figure is 177. They race off the same weight in the Many Clouds Chase.
Native River has the form and ratings to beat Might Bite and the rest of a small but select field at Aintree. His performance will determine if he returns to the track for the National in April or runs in the Gold Cup for the fourth time. Tizzard also trains Lostintranslation, which is the current ante-post betting favourite at +400 to win the Blue Riband of chasing.