Owner explains why Grand National second favourite Native River may not run

Native River's owner Garth Broom has warned punters to wait until after the Cheltenham Festival before they back the second-favourite for the Randox Health Grand National, with the 2018 Gold Cup winner deemed an "unlikely" runner in the Aintree marathon on Wednesday.

The warning comes as Paddy Power reported sustained support for the Colin Tizzard-trained chaser, who is set to bid for a second Gold Cup at Cheltenham next month. Paddy Power – who are non-runner no-bet on the Grand National – have cut Native River to 8-1 second-favourite (from 10-1).

It adds further uncertainty to a Grand National market headed by Tiger Roll – available at a general 5-1 – as the joint-topweight is also not certain to run at Aintree after Eddie O'Leary, brother to Gigginstown House Stud supremo Michael O'Leary, said he was "very disappointed" with the mark of 170 allotted to the two-time winner at the unveiling of the Grand National weights in Liverpool on Tuesday.

Watch Native River win Saturday's Denman Chase

Broom, who along with his wife Anne is Brocade Racing, acknowledged Native River has been given a competitive mark of 166 and weight of 11st 6lb, but said: "We are not ruling it out completely but I think it's unlikely and I wouldn't go saying anyone should back him for the Grand National until after the Gold Cup.

"I think he has been dealt with fairly and have no complaints about his weight – I think it's very reasonable.

"We have to get the Gold Cup over first and see how he comes out of it. If he puts everything into the Gold Cup as he has done before, then, if you look, he has not run again after his Gold Cup efforts."

The resurgence of Native River this season, first at Aintree and then winning his third Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday, has changed priorities, which had started the season looking more likely to be Aintree than a fourth run in the Magners-backed Gold Cup.

Anne and Garth Broom (left) with Native River after the Gold CupCredit: Edward Whitaker

"After being under par the previous season, we thought we might have to look at the Grand National rather than the Gold Cup," added Broom.

That all changed after the application of blinkers for the first time in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December and Richard Johnson's subsequent debrief.

Broom said: "Dickie said the horse is back and hadn't given him that feel last season and that put the priority back to the Gold Cup again."

Another commanding performance by Native River at Newbury when beating Secret Investor by two and three-quarter lengths under stand-in jockey Jonjo O'Neill jnr did nothing to lessen the hopes of Broom that his superstar stayer could emulate Kauto Star and regain his Gold Cup crown. He is a general 10-1 for the Friday feature at the festival.

"I was very pleased with his performance with a new jockey as you never know," the owner continued. "Jonjo got on really well with him and gave him a lovely ride.

"I'm hoping for a big race from him at Cheltenham and if he turns up in that form anyone who beats him will know they have been in a race."

Native River with trainer Colin TizzardCredit: Edward Whitaker

The Tizzards, while keen to see Native River at Aintree, are also concentrating on his Cheltenham preparation. Joe Tizzard, assistant to his father Colin, said: "To be honest, it is all about the Gold Cup with him. With the blinkers back on this season, he has looked very good and he deserves to take his chance in the Gold Cup again, and then we will take stock after that.

"If he was mine right now, I would perhaps skip Cheltenham and go straight to Aintree, but fair play to the owners, they own the horse and he has every right to line up in the Gold Cup.

"He's a tough boy, although I think his win in the Gold Cup against Might Bite left its toll on both of them last season. But with the blinkers on, Native River seems in the form of his life again. He's an old-fashioned horse and old-fashioned rules say that the Gold Cup is a good prep for the Grand National."

Broom and his wife Anne are looking forward to the festival "with two live chances instead of one" after Harry Senior booked his trip on Trials day at Cheltenham last month. He is 12-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle, although he is also entered in the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.

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