COLIN Tizzard insists he will be an impartial supporter of Native River and Cue Card when destiny comes calling in the Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup today (3.30pm).

Even in spite of Thistlecrack’s enforced absence, the Dorset handler has long held the aces in the big race as his two runners remain towards the head of the market.

But Tizzard has no preference for either horse on what will be the biggest day of his training career.

He said: “The handicapper says there is about 2lb between them and they know pretty much what is what.

“I would not be able to split them and I would not mind if either jumps the last four lengths clear.

“There is no way I would want one horse to win more than the other. All I want is for both horses to run their races and come back fit and sound. May the best horse win.”

Native River has been a revelation this season, with victories in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury, the Welsh National at Chepstow and the Denman Chase at Newbury a clear testament of his quality.

His trainer said: “He has what it takes to win a Gold Cup, whether or not he does so this year.

“He ran well in the four-miler last year and was staying on well and was only beaten three-quarters of a length. He is only seven and he is going the right way.

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“He has got everything and is in the form of his life.”

Eleven-year-old Cue Card suffered a heartbreaking fall in the Gold Cup last season, when bang in the hunt, but has showed no signs of slowing down this winter.

“He won so strongly at Ascot last time and looks as well as he has ever been,” said Tizzard.

“Cue Card has done everything bar win a Gold Cup and we have everything to play for.

“We thought his chance might have gone, but he has an equally good chance this year as he had last year.

“The Gold Cup is a very big strain on the owner, trainer and jockey.

“None of us ever expected Cue Card to fall as he has always been a very neat and accurate jumper. At the time it was great that he just got back up. Paddy (Brennan) just took it as being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“Cue Card has been, and still is, a Grade One horse and I don’t think he is wilting yet.

“I am so proud of the horse.”

Meanwhile, Tizzard remains optimistic multiple Grade One winner Thistlecrack will be back in time to resume his racing career at Christmas.

The nine-year-old was ruled out of the Cheltenham Gold Cup after sustaining a tendon injury in the build-up to the Festival showpiece, for which he was the ante-post favourite.

After landing last year’s Stayers’ Hurdle, the John and Heather Snook-owned gelding had made a seamless transition to fences, winning his first four starts, including victory in the King George VI Chase, before tasting defeat to the ill-fated Many Clouds at Cheltenham in January.

Tizzard said: “We’ve got to make sure we get him right for next season. The issue is only very small. We are in the middle of March now though and next season is not far away.

“Nature cures everything and we could help nature along a bit. The swelling has gone down and we trotted him out the other morning and he was sound.

“Racehorses that are big like him, there is a lot of strain on tendons. I see no reason at the minute why he shouldn’t be back before Christmas and then have a couple of runs before the Gold Cup.”