'He won us the Gold Cup - but we've got just as much of a thrill out of what he's achieved since he retired'
Lewis Porteous catches up with Native River and the starstruck team around him
Chilled out does not even come close. Native River is so laid-back he's practically horizontal as he is prised from his five-star accommodation to meet the latest in a never-ending line of visitors.
With his big white blaze and four white socks, the 2018 Gold Cup winner is unmistakable to the eye and, even at the age of 14, still has that gleam of star quality about him.
He never raced at Taunton during his eight years on the track but has found his new permanent home less than ten miles away from the Somerset racecourse and appears to be loving life.
Bloodstock agent Tom Malone, the man who first bought the son of Indian River to Britain after he had unseated his rider in a Dromahane point-to-point in 2014, is the lucky man in charge of a national treasure of British jump racing, with 'River' taking pride of place in the stable closest to Malone's front door at his pristine Webb Hill Farm.
"I bought him out of Denis Ahern's yard in Dungourney, County Cork," remembers Malone. "Denis's hip was in bits and he was waiting to get a replacement. He pulled Native River out of what can only be described as a cow shed and he wasn't looking like he is right now! Denis couldn't run but he was trying to trot him and Native River was behind him trying to dodge Denis and I remember thinking, 'What a gentle horse', trying to sidestep his owner so he didn't step on him."
I am not the only visitor on hand to make a fuss over the former Colin Tizzard-trained chaser this morning. Garth and Anne Broom, who watched Native River carry their Brocade Racing silks to victory in three Denman Chases, a Welsh Grand National, the Hennessy, a Cotswold Chase and of course the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, are also looking on in admiration.
They live just three miles away in the pretty village of Bradford-on-Tone and, while they have a team of 15 horses to keep them occupied on the track, nothing beats the company of a horse who made their dreams come true.
"We were being polite really by coming to have a look at him when Tom said he had one for sale," says Garth, rewinding to the beginning. "He wasn't the normal sort of horse we go for. Hey Big Spender and horses like that were great big bays but Native River was almost cat-like and, when he trotted him, he floated. Driving away we both said we liked him and, by the time we got home, we thought he was worth taking a punt on. The rest is history."
Native River was hardy on the track. He raced from the front, could gallop forever and loved a battle. It is hard to think of a more straightforward competitor but that is not to say he didn't have his quirks. His jumping may have been immaculate but there has always been more to Native River than meets the eye and some things never change.
"He's actually quite nervous but then, in other ways, he's such a man," says Malone, completely enchanted by the deep-coloured chestnut. "The fact he's quite lairy probably made him such a good racehorse. His jumping was phenomenal because he never touched a twig and the reason for that was because he doesn't like touching stuff. But once he's done something three or four times he's worked it out and it's simple."
Once a journeyman jump jockey based in the West Country, Malone has become one of the top equine talent scouts in racing and, having sourced a Gold Cup winner, he is trusted by some of the biggest names in the sport to unearth future champions.
He is no-one's fool, that is for sure, and knows exactly what Native River has done for his own career, which is why he was so determined to bring him home with him after a final roll of the dice on the racecourse in the 2021 Welsh National.
"I always had it in my head that he'd retire at my place. He did a lot of things for my career, let alone for Garth and Anne on the track. He's a special horse and to be around him in any way is priceless. He's so lovable."
After a long goodbye with the Tizzards, Native River made the move to Webb Hill where the first job was to switch him off from the routine of a racing yard and let him relax.
"He had a proper break for three months and he let down," says Malone. "When he came back in he became so easy to do. Emma Cudd then started riding him and doing a lot of work with him. She did a fantastic job teaching him to relax and just get into it. As well as Emma, Zara Cox and Jazmin Hosgood have been working with him lots and it's great to see people being able to use him."
This season Native River will be an ambassador for Exeter racecourse, present on every raceday at a track where he was unbeaten, and his diary has less gaps in it than even Malone's.
"He's got plenty on but he loves it," says the bloodstock agent. "He even went to Bond Street with Rachael Blackmore for Boodles when they sponsored the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He was proud as punch stood there in central London at 8am in the morning. I promise you, this lad has a full-time engagement outside of this place, never mind in it."
One of his most bizarre engagements came when Cox asked if Native River, rather than a limousine or horse-drawn carriage, could deliver her to her school prom. Knowing her father well, the Brooms were happy to let Cox ride him to the venue at Oake Manor Golf Club in Taunton, and it did not take long for images and videos of the school-leaver in her ball gown aboard the Gold Cup winner to go viral.
"There were cars and tractors everywhere and probably 200 people up at Oake Manor," recalls Malone. "He came around the corner and everyone started clapping and he stood there with his chest puffed out. It was the most surreal thing I've seen in a long time. He was fresh in from the field at the time but he was foot-perfect and the ultimate professional."
A fine ambassador for racing, Native River is also championing what retired racehorses can achieve once they leave the sport. He has lost none of his competitive edge and has become a shining star in the show ring. He has also dazzled at dressage and enjoyed success showjumping under Harry Cobden.
"He won the Retraining of Racehorses [RoR] riding class at Burghley only on Sunday and his next event is going to be the Horse of the Year Show [Hoys] in October," says his custodian. "Next year he's going to conquer the Dublin Horse Show – that's the big plan."
Quick to learn new skills, River first competed in showing and dressage competitions with Cudd last year and has surprised everyone with how quickly he has adapted to life after racing.
"He's fallen into it because he's so good at it," says Malone. "It's taken us all by surprise and one thing leads to another. We're all learning on the job with this because I had no more of an idea about showing and dressage than Garth and Anne did and still don't really but it's very easy learning with a good horse.
"We were always going to put him into a few shows but then he just came alive at them and was bringing back rosette after rosette. We ended up at Aintree last year and he brought home some rosettes and this year we've already been to Hickstead and Burghley."
No-one has been prouder watching him in the showing ring than his owners, who often find it hard to believe the horse they see floating across the arena is the same one who used to love slogging through the mud at Chepstow and Newbury.
"I think we've had just as much thrill out of what he's achieved since he's retired [as we did when he was racing] because it's nice to see him doing so well," says Garth. "Dressage and showing is completely different to what a racehorse does but it is absolutely fantastic how they teach them these new disciplines. We'll always go when he's competing."
Key to Native River’s showing success has undoubtedly been Cudd. Along with the wider team at Webb Hill, she has spent hours with the former Gold Cup winner and they clearly trust in each other.
A gifted equestrian, Cudd is more accustomed to showjumping but was so impressed with Native River's swagger that she was determined for him to have the chance to shine in front of the showing judges.
"It's been just under two years now since I started retraining him and I remember that first trot up the road and thinking, 'He can move'. He's had a lot to learn but he's like a sponge and gets better and better each time you do something with him," she says. "He's got a lot of step about him and the best walk and, because he's got such a good brain, he's been easy to train."
Cudd first tested the competitive waters with River at a low-key dressage event six months into his training and he was an instant hit, winning both his classes. He then won his first show in an RoR amateur class and qualified for the Aintree National Championships.
"Aintree was a whole new ball game against established horses but he won the intro dressage which was mad and very unexpected. I was blown away and it's like he knows everyone is there to see him."
He then triumphed at Hickstead but his crowning moment is yet to come, having shocked Cudd, Malone and the Brooms by qualifying for Hoys at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham in October.
"Qualifying for Hoys was the moment," says Cudd. "People try to qualify for years and we went and did it on our first attempt! This horse has taken me places that I could never have dreamed of. Not only that, he's such a special horse.
"I've had a bit of a tricky year and you could not wish for a better friend than him. He's given me some special days that I will never forget and I will always be thankful to him. He's such a good advocate for thoroughbreds. He had some hard races but is still there trying his heart out at something new and loving it."
The highlight for Malone was when the Injured Jockeys Fund held a jockeys' showjumping challenge and he entered the Gold Cup winner under Cobden, although this was not a case of simply turning up on the day and setting the pair of them loose.
Over several months, Cobden and Cudd had to teach the Gold Cup winner an entirely different technique compared to jumping fences but Native River proved the perfect student and, at the Bicton Arena in Devon in July, the partnership put in a clear round in the fastest time to be crowned overall winners.
"I've never been so nervous in all my life," says Malone. "He went round like a champion and watching a Gold Cup winner being ridden by the champion jockey for the Injured Jockeys Fund was special. A horse like him should be seen by everyone and he loves it. Showing off like he did was what this horse was made for. He grows half an inch at every event he goes to."
It might be more than six years since Native River's Gold Cup triumph but there is no underestimating how popular he remains. Two years ago Malone opened his gates during National Racehorse Week and 200 people came to visit just one horse, while hundreds more have been to see him in his new home since.
By starring in his second career, he is helping to showcase the versatility of former racehorses and the possibilities really are endless once they retire from the track.
"Thoroughbreds are so intelligent and adapt so quickly," says Malone. "I have another horse I bought for Garth and Anne called Truckin Away and he won all his classes at the RoR National Championships at Aintree.
"Having been around the RoR events, it just goes to show the amount of people who have ex-racehorses and are competing on a weekly basis and I think that's brilliant. We don't get to see it or hear about it enough and I was oblivious to that before Native River. I think that's why Exeter have grabbed hold of him as an ambassador, because they can see what he's doing."
National polling has on more than one occasion highlighted that what happens to racehorses after they retire from the sport is the public's number one concern when it comes to racing and is a huge stumbling block to attracting new fans to racecourses, yet there are so many positive stories to recount.
"Native River and Truckin Again show there is life after racing for racehorses," says Broom. "We had almost 50 people inquire about ownership for Native River when he retired and we have almost a waiting list for our horses.
"If a horse is a bit difficult to handle or anything, we send them to the Moorcroft Equine Rehabilitation Centre to be retrained, because we wouldn't want to let someone have a horse who might not be ready. We try to match the horse to the most suitable person and home.
"Quite often people get in touch to let us know what they're doing with our horses, which is nice. The majority go on to be happy hackers, but that is giving someone pleasure and the horse is being well looked after and remaining active. They give us a lot of pleasure, so we try to do our best for them."
That has certainly been the case with Native River, who has been given the best of everything since his retirement from racing and is thriving having learned a variety of new skills.
"I never stop anyone coming to see him and love to show him off," says Malone. "He's a celebrity and everyone loves him, so they should see him. As long as he's happy we'll continue with the showing but if at any stage he tells us he's had enough of something we'll stop. Whatever he's happy doing is what we'll do."
Part three of Life After Racing, in which Peter Thomas visits the RoR National Championships, will be online from 6pm on Tuesday. You can read part one below:
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