Native River: Richard Johnson's Cheltenham Gold Cup Hero.

Native River returns to action in the Grade 2 Many Clouds Chase at Aintree tomorrow - against his old rival Might Bite.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup winner of 2018 will begin his 2019/20 campaign against the horse he beat in that race - Richard Johnson recalls how everything fell into place on that special day. “Going into The Gold Cup, I thought native river had a good chance anyway, he’d had a great season and he went there in great form.

“The ground was in our favour, everything seemed to fall the right way for us.

“I was both excited and apprehensive before the race, as you want them to go well, but for me I was very confident in the horse as he jumps well, stays really well and was in great form – so that’s always a positive.

“When I got on him and went down to post, again, he felt really well and he was on his game. As we were going around at the start it was one of those days when everything just seemed to fit and work, it was all happening at the right times.

“We got a good start and he jumped the first two really, really well and from then onwards he got into a lovely rhythm.

“It felt for me that we weren’t going very quick, it felt as though he was just having a nice time. After the race it was amazing when people said they thought it was a real end-to-end gallop all the way – for me I thought we hadn’t gone that quick the first circuit. We jumped and travelled really well.

“When we went out for the second circuit, that’s when I thought we haven’t gone that quick and we need to up the tempo slightly because stamina is one of his fortes.

“I started to gradually ask him for more and more and he kept giving it to me.

“Obviously, Might Bite was the horse before that we thought we had to beat and I could just see him out of the corner of my eye, almost eyeballing me from halfway down the back straight – so I knew where he was and again, the stamina was a big thing I thought I had in my favour, but he jumped so well, travelled so well, he answered every call I asked of him really.

“He gave me a huge jump over four out and I knew then I obviously had plenty left as well.

“When you come down the hill at Cheltenham, there is massive noise from people and everything else, but in that situation you’re oblivious to all that. I knew Nico De Boinville was next to me on Might Bite and I knew what I had to do.

“Off the bend, for everybody watching, Nico was travelling really well on Might Bite and I was almost scrubbing along on Native River – but I knew the fact that he stayed so well and the Cheltenham hill is a long way up.

“With two more fences, I still felt I had every chance but I wasn’t confident of winning by any means.

“Again, he jumped the last two really well and just after he landed over the last, I think that’s when I felt I was getting on top and he just never stopped.

“For me, that’s the biggest race of our season and to win that was unbelievable.

“It is only once you pull up you suddenly hear the noise and the atmosphere just hits you.

“Until that moment you’re in a bit of a bubble – which is important because you need to be concentrating on what you’re doing – but it’s amazing how suddenly the relief hits when you pass the line and it has all gone so well.

“When you win as well, the crowd and everybody around you... There’s no better feeling in the world! Especially after the event, because you can then begin to enjoy the moment to the full.”

If you’ve ever wondered how a jockey both feels, and celebrates, after such a big win – Johnson gave a very honest account of the aftermath – which included no alcohol:

“It was fantastic heading home, my wife was here. Again, I’m very lucky that I’ve had lots of big winners. If it was my first then it would have been even bigger day feelings wise – but as I’ve been around this before, it was a bit easier to take in.

“I’d been here when I won the Gold Cup 18 years before, when I was very young, and probably didn’t realise quite how lucky I was to have won the race – I probably didn’t take it all in. So I wanted to take in everything afterwards.

“I went to see the owners, as well as Colin and Joe Tizzard and all the people involved and we enjoyed that at the racecourse, then myself and my wife went for a few drinks with friends in Cheltenham because they were on a day out as well.

“Obviously I had racing the next day, so I was the driver. It was nothing too exciting for me – it was just a chance to take it all in.

“I know those days are so hard to come by - so you’ve got to make the most of them and try and enjoy them.

“I remember every minute of that day and the feelings I had around it – it doesn’t matter how many winners you ride, those days are priceless.”

Think you would prepare differently for the biggest race in the National-Hunt calendar? The 2018 winner didn’t! The champion jockey says he always prepares the same way:

“No, I think you prepare the same whether it’s a Monday, a Saturday or a Gold Cup day – it doesn’t make any difference to me.

“Now I’ve got three children as well, they definitely don’t understand, so they’re not going to treat you any differently and I think it’s a good thing for me having a family life when I get home. It keeps me mentally in a better place.

“You just try and do all the right things and try and keep the same attitude and be as relaxed as you can be – but obviously it is a Gold Cup.

“Riding in the race is almost easier than probably the hour before. The build-up, everybody wants to ask you questions and wish you good luck, and sometimes I think when you’re on the horse – well for me anyway – I’m the most happy and relaxed.”

Finally, when asked to describe Native River in a few words, his pilot was not short of praise:

Tough is the obvious word. Tough, classy, genuine… He’s everything you want in a racehorse. He is obviously very good, but he’s so straightforward and honest. To have all those things together, that’s what makes him a champion.

A lot of horses are classy, or tough, or… But to actually have all three – there are very few at that level.

Native River heads a field-of-four for tomorrow’s Grade 2, Virgin Bet Price Boosts Many Clouds Chase – at a current 10/11.

VIEW THE RACECARD HERE.

Others in the 2.40 at Aintree include Might Bite – runner-up in the 2018 Gold Cup, the ultra-reliable Black Corton, and 2019 Grand National 9th – Outlander.