NATIVE River was very much in the news over the past week as Colin Tizzard’s charge recorded his third success in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday and, after Tuesday’s launch of the weights for the Randox Health Grand National, he was supported into second favourite for the Aintree spectacular.

Ridden for the first time in public by Jonjo O’Neill Jr, the 10-year-old Indian River gelding made all in the near three-mile Grade 2 contest at Newbury much to the delight of his Dromore breeder, Fred Mackey. Fred is inclined to think Native River will miss the National after running in the Cheltenham Gold Cup in which he finished fourth last March having won the Blue Riband of chasing in 2018. He was also third in the Grade 1 contest 12 months previously.

Celebrations