GO NATIVE EDGES CHRISTMAS CRACKER

January 20 2010

Go Native - Kempton winner.

Go Native's opportunity for a £1million windfall was within a whisker of being taken away as he claimed the williamhill.com Christmas Hurdle at Kempton by a short-head from Starluck.

As the winner of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, Noel Meade's gelding will qualify for the WBX.com Triple Crown bonus if he goes on to take the Champion Hurdle in March.

Go Native has to be ridden with exactly the same exaggerated waiting tactics as his recently-retired stablemate Harchibald, also last year's hero, and with Meade's usual jockey Paul Carberry confined to the stands through suspension, it was up to Davy Condon to attempt his best impression of the hold-up maestro.

In fact, Condon almost played his hand a little too early as the race began in earnest at the final flight and a fragile lead had almost disappeared by the post.

None of the seven-strong field were habitual front-runners so it was down to Straw Bear to take them along on behalf of owner JP McManus' first string, the 11-8 favourite and Champion Hurdle third Binocular.

Binocular was a little scrappy over a hurdle or two but got himself into the picture by the home straight, closely marked by Starluck and Go Native as Cape Tribulation made his move for home.

Condon kept Go Native (5-2 second-favourite) covered up but simply could not stop him hitting the front at the last.

Much like the quirky Harchibald, the gelding had no intention of winning easily and within another stride, the rallying Starluck would have poached the Grade One prize.

It is now all about March and Go Native is 6-1 from 10s for the Champion Hurdle with William Hill and the same price from 9s at Sky Bet. The latter firm also cut Starluck to 14s from 20s for the Cheltenham showpiece.

"We've won it (the Christmas Hurdle) four times now and Harchibald was beaten a head in it one year too so it was a bit of a worry when they were coming up to the line today, but he got there in the end," said Meade.

"It's fantastic. To have the chance to run for £1million at Cheltenham is fantastic.

"I haven't spoken to Davy but he probably got there a bit soon and when he hit the front he didn't ask him to stretch out to the line as he was going so well and he sat up on him a bit.

"It was probably a mistake in hindsight that he didn't kick on. I know he'll be compared to Harchibald, but I wouldn't mind if he was as good as Harchibald.

"There are similarities, he travels well and jumps well and I suppose he was pulling up a bit at the end. Harchibald wasn't as quick as this fellow though.

"I wasn't surprised Binocular was favourite as I heard through the grapevine he did a spectacular bit of work last week.

"I would think you won't see him again until Cheltenham, that's my first initial reaction, we'll leave him now.

"He's running for £1million, we know he goes well fresh so there is no point taking a risk with him."

It was a day to treasure too for Condon, who returned to Ireland this season after a job with Nicky Richards in Cumbria did not work out.

Condon said: "He travels so well and jumps quick, but he goes for 100 yards and then idles.

"The ground is dead and tacky. He does tend to think he has done enough, but on better ground he would go for a bit further.

"He stuck his neck out when other horse came to him and I'd say he'll definitely take all the beating at Cheltenham, but that's not my worry as Paul will be back on then! He's a perfect Paul Carberry ride."

Carberry, who is serving a 30-day ban for failing a breath test, was representing Meade and felt mixed emotions.

He added: "It's frustrating but you have to block it out.

"He's similar to Harchibald in the way he travels, but I think this chap would have a little more speed. He's not as moody, which is a good thing."

Alan Fleming said of Starluck: "You'd have to be very pleased with that and he looks like he is improving all of the time, but the ground has just gone against him.

"We'll run in all of the big races between now and the end of the year and it would be nice to pick one up as a second-season hurdler."

Binocular was a length and a quarter away in third and trainer Nicky Henderson said: "That was certainly much better than Newcastle and he is just taking time to find his form.

"He's like a flower who is trying to blossom which is just taking time to happen. We'll keep going down the same road and he'll definitely run again before Cheltenham."