Native River likely to miss Welsh National as connections target second Gold Cup

Native River is unlikely to bid for a second Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow this month with connections instead choosing to build his campaign around the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Colin Tizzard-trained ten-year-old returned at Aintree on Saturday with a close third to Lake View Lad in the Many Clouds Chase and will now be aimed at the Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham next month.

The likely decision to skip the Welsh National has repercussions for the race on December 27, with the weights set to go up 9lb across the board in the 168-rated chaser's absence.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Yala Enki, rated 159, would be left at the head of the weights followed by his 155-rated stablemate Truckers Lodge, Ramses De Teillee, Sam Brown and Lord Du Mesnil.

Native River's owners Anne (left) and Garth Broom (second right) after the 2018 Gold CupCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"I don't think the Welsh National is going to be on the agenda for Native River," said assistant trainer Joe Tizzard. "Asking a horse of his age to go and carry a lump of weight at Chepstow might not be fair.

"We've only briefly discussed plans but I think we'll head for the Cotswold Chase on Trials Day at Cheltenham. That's good timing from there to the Gold Cup.

"We haven't discussed the Grand National this season at all. We have thought about it in other years but the owners aren't crazy about the idea. We'd just love to get him back for another Gold Cup."

After his Welsh Grand National win in 2016 Native River graduated into top-level company over fences, finishing third in the Gold Cup that season and returning to Cheltenham 12 months later to strike gold after a memorable battle with Might Bite.

He has won two Grade 2s since his Gold Cup triumph, been placed in the Betfair Chase and the King George as well as finishing fourth to Al Boum Photo in the 2019 Gold Cup. He has not finished outside the top four in 20 starts since 2015.

Tizzard was delighted with his reappearance at Aintree on Saturday and felt victory may have been within reach had the last three fences not been omitted due to low sun.

Native River: a 33-1 shot for the Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Michael Steele (Getty Images)

"It's just lovely that the old boy can still show that sort of sparkle," he added. "We thought we had him in good order before the race but we couldn't be sure until he ran.

"If the jumps had been in you never know what might have happened. He's such a brilliant jumper and was going well, so there's no doubt jumping the last three would have helped him.

"But they weren't and that can't be helped. Richard [Johnson, jockey] did say the the sun was really bad but bypassing the last he was coming again. We're all thrilled.

"Richard was chuffed to bits with him as well. The two of them really suit each other and they get on so well. I could tell from his face after the race that he had a really good spin on him."

Aintree hit by low sun again

In October, Aintree officials brought forward the time of the Old Roan Chase after problems with low sun the year before, but the course said it had its hands tied on this occasion.

"We're somewhat governed by TV broadcast times as we want the best races to be shown on ITV, and the timing for the two races on the Grand National course is fixed to allow us to prepare the fences in between," said clerk of the course Sulekha Varma.

"It's unfortunate, but we're not the only course to have had problems with low sun in the last week, and we won't be the last. Safety is paramount and it has to be all the time. We're constantly reviewing everything and discussing all possibilities."

Coral Welsh Grand National (December 27)

Sponsors: 10 Secret Reprieve, 12 Truckers Lodge, 14 Newtide, Notachance, Ramses De Teillee, Sam Brown, Springfield Fox, 16 At The Acorn, Cloudy Glen, Lord Du Mesnil, Native River, Vieux Lion Rouge, Yala Enki, 20 bar

Read more:

Santini and Native River beaten by 16-1 shot Lake View Lad in Many Clouds Chase

Welsh National favourite and two Arkle movers: how Saturday impacted the markets

Secret Reprieve 10-1 favourite for Welsh National after easy trial success

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