JOE Tizzard believes Hennessy Gold Cup hero Native River has a "great chance" of following up in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow.

Having rounded off last season with a Grade One success at Aintree, the six-year-old warmed up for his big-race assignment at Newbury with an encouraging comeback run over hurdles at Wetherby.

Colin Tizzard's charge looked set to win decisively in the Hennessy but idled after the final fence and had just enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Carole's Destrier by half a length.

Connections were initially lukewarm on the idea of a Welsh Grand National bid with a horse they hope can develop into a realistic contender for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, but the prospect of decent ground has prompted them to let the gelding take his chance under 11st 12lb.

Tizzard, assistant to his father, said: "Native River was so impressive in the Hennessy. He's gone up 8lb in the handicap but can run with only a 4lb penalty.

"In any other year we might not have gone down this route with him as he is only a six-year-old and some years it (Chepstow) can be really bottomless and top weight would have left its mark.

"This year we've had such a dry autumn and it doesn't look like it's going to be too bad, so he can take his chance.

"The track will suit him and he has a great chance.

"With the ground as it is, I'm not worried about him having top weight."

Native River's Hennessy success was a first in the race for champion jockey Richard Johnson, who takes the ride once more and is full of hope.

He told his Betway blog: "I'd like to think that if he's in the same form as his Hennessy win then he'd take a lot of beating.

"He's definitely an improving horse and seems to be thriving on his racing. The Tizzard team have their horses in rude health, and as long as the ground is suitable, he's one I'm most looking forward to over Christmas."

Native River spearheads a three-pronged assault on the extended three-mile-five-furlong contest by the Tizzard team.

Theatre Guide was eighth in the Hennessy before winning at Cheltenham earlier this month, while Viconte Du Noyer won at Cheltenham in November before disappointing over the Grand National fences in the Becher Chase at Aintree.

"Theatre Guide has been a good horse, but he was disappointing in the Hennessy. He's always had a high head carriage but it was exaggerated in the Hennessy," Tizzard jnr told Coral TV.

"The plan was to go straight here but he came out of the Hennessy like he hadn't had a race, so we ran him at Cheltenham in first-time blinkers and he won.

"He's had three weeks and he's ready to go.

"Whether he has the class of Native River, I don't know, but he's certainly got a live each-way chance."

"If you take Viconte De Noyer's Aintree run out of it he'd have a chance after his Cheltenham win.

"After Aintree I rode him on the Monday and he was way too fresh. I think he simply didn't face the National fences and didn't have a hard race.

"On Cheltenham form he'd have a live each-way chance."