River on course for Chepstow

Hennessy Gold Cup winner Native River is on course to take his chance in the Coral Welsh National later this month.

Trainer Colin Tizzard had initially ruled out sending his six-year-old to Chepstow for the December 27 feature but he appears to have had a change of heart, providing underfoot conditions are not too testing.

"We're now very keen to go for the Welsh National," assistant trainer Joe Tizzard told the Racing Post.

"He has gone up 8lb for winning the Hennessy and only has a 4lb penalty to carry at Chepstow. The chances are we'll run him and we're certainly aiming that way at the moment. The big weight wouldn't be a problem to him.

"If the race looked like being run in a complete bog it might put us off, but it doesn't look like being that way at the moment."

Should he get the go ahead to run, Native River will bid to become the first horse since Cavill's Hill in 1991 to carry 11st 12lb to victory in the Welsh National.

Meanwhile, connections have yet to make a decision on whether to let Thistlecrack run alongside stable companion Cue Card in the King George VI Chase.

The Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner is unbeaten in his three starts over fences this term and he has the option of running in the feature event or the 32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase on the same card.

"We need to sit down with John and Heather (Snook, owners), but obviously it's a difficult decision we have to make. I would love to be able to give everyone an answer but we don't know ourselves at the moment," Tizzard said.

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