10-year-old Native River might be allowed to take his chances in the 2020 Randox Health Grand National on April 4th. The former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner will first be bidding to regain the trophy which he won in the 2018 festival, however following this he could be a contender for the famous Aintree steeplechase in less than eight week’s time.
Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard, said: “He has been a very good horse for us – he has won a Gold Cup.
“He won very nicely last Saturday (at Newbury) and all roads lead to the Gold Cup first and then he has got the National entry – not as a back-up but as a follow-up.
“If he runs well in the Gold Cup and comes out of the race well – there are only three weeks between the two this year – then you could well see him in a Grand National, which would suit him down to a tee.
“He won on Saturday and that was only his second run of the season.
“He has been kept fresh and he is in great form at the moment.”
Joint top-weight Tiger Roll has been given a rating of 170 and will need to defy 11st 10lb should he be in with a chance of winning the Grand National for a third successive time. Connections state that the two-time winner may not take part in the race, however Tizzard believes that the rating isn’t unreasonable.
He said: “I think bang-on, nobody could complain.
“It is not supposed to be easy to win a Grand National and I think everyone thinks that is about fair.”
