NATIVE River followed up his win in the hugely valuable and historic Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury with victory under top-weight in the Grade 3 Welsh Grand National over just short of three and three-quarter miles. Bred by Fred Mackey, the son of Indian River was recording his eighth win under National Hunt rules. Having unseated his rider on his only point-to-point run, he has since then only three times failed to finish in the money from his 17 racecourse runs.

While the Hennessy was his most valuable win, his most prestigious came earlier in the year when he landed the Grade 1 Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree, adding to the Grade 2 Worcester Novices’ Chase and a listed win over hurdles. He has amassed earnings now of £356,000 and this is well ahead of the mere €6,000 value placed on him when John Dineen bought him as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland.