COLIN Tizzard will only consider a tilt at the Coral Welsh Grand National with Native River if ground conditions are in his favour.

A three-times winner during his novice campaign over fences last season including a Grade One victory at Aintree, the six-year-old made an encouraging return to action over hurdles at Wetherby before claiming Hennessy Gold Cup glory at Newbury late last month.

Tizzard is keen to run Native River over the Festive period and carrying top-weight in Chepstow’s marathon event on December 27 is a genuine possibility, but that could change if conditions deteriorate in the next three weeks.

“If the ground becomes good, good to soft it will become a real option but if it is the usual Chepstow in hock deep ground I’d say no. He has been left in in case this weather doesn’t change,” said the Dorset-based trainer.

“We are only three weeks away and he is left in for that reason.

“The Cotswold Chase (at Cheltenham) is in another month.

“He doesn’t need to wait until the end of January at all. He could run tomorrow.”

Native River is a best priced 20-1 for the Cheltenham Gold Cup in a market dominated by his illustrious stable companions Thistlecrack and Cue Card.