All in place for a big run from Native River

THERE is plenty of rain forecast in Merseyside this week which will be music to the ears of the Tizzards as Native River prepares to take on a few of Ireland’s most popular chasers in the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree on Saturday.

The 2018 Gold Cup hero should have a leading chance against the likes of Al Boum Photo and Tiger Roll with the ground set to be to his liking. He proved just how tough he is to stop on a testing surface at Sandown in February, sluicing up in the Cotswold Chase and posting an impressive RPR of 174 which is just 1lb shy of the rating Al Boum Photo achieved that season.

The Tizzards report him to be in top form and he should be primed for this Grade 2, which he won two seasons ago and shaped well in 12 months ago when it was not much of a jumping test due to the low sun. Given the weather, everything looks firmly in his favour.

On Friday, all eyes will be on the Paul Nicholls-trained Brave Kingdom in the Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown following his stunning hurdling debut at Chepstow. It is hard to assess the strength of that romp but the manner in which he dismissed the opposition suggests he could be a high-class novice this season. He looks the one to beat in this Grade 2 heat and could emerge as a challenger to stablemate Stage Star in the Challow Hurdle later in the month.

The Keiran Burke-trained Last Royal isan exciting prospect in the novice hurdling division and has entries at Wetherby and Chepstow – with the latter assumed as the more likely starting point. A full-brother to Honeysuckle, he made a huge impression on debut at Uttoxeter and bumped into one when second there last September. He looks talented in his own right and appeals for the Nigels Lads Christmas Bash Novices’ Hurdle.

Also worth noting

Earth Business (Colin Tizzard) in the 1.45 at Wincanton on Thursday

Boothill (Harry Fry) in the 2.05 at Exeter on Friday

St Barts (Philip Hobbs) in the 1.57 at Chepstow on Saturday

Salty Boy (David Bridgewater) in the 3.00 at Sandown on Saturday

Brinkley (David Pipe) in the 12.47 at Huntingdon on Sunday

Hitman (Paul Nicholls) in the 1.52 at Huntingdon on Sunday