Jack on course for bonus tilt

Cheltenham Festival winner Native Jack is on course to bid for a £50,000 (€73,000) bonus in next month’s La Touche Cup at the Punchestown Festival.

The 12-year-old won the Sporting Index Cross-Country Chase at Prestbury Park and will qualify for the bonus if he can pull off the notable feat of scoring at both festivals.

“The horse has come out of Cheltenham very well, and goes straight to Punchestown,” said trainer Philip Rothwell.

“I was considering running him at Aintree, but we have decided to wait and make sure that he is spot on for the La Touche.

“Davy Russell did a great job on him at Cheltenham, but it was tough luck on John Cullen and he will be back on board next time.

“John rides out for me every Thursday and has been hugely supportive over the last year.”

A return to hurdles is also on the cards as is a tilt at the 2007 Grand National.

“He appears to be quite well-treated over hurdles, and I’ll be on the lookout for a decent three-mile handicap for him after Punchestown.

“He will hopefully contest most of the cross-country races again next season, and the National is likely to enter calculations as well.

“I know he’ll be 13 by then but there’s very little mileage on the clock and he retains plenty of ability,” Rothwell told The Sportsman.