The 2024 Grand National 11 - 13 April

Native River

Native River is an Irish racehorse which has been a lifetime jump racing specialist. Since starting out in 2014, he has taken part in 16 runs and ended up being successful in seven. Since most of the successes have come in the top events, Native River is rightly considered as one of the top runners for the Grand National 2021.

Native River managed a win in only his second race in the John Smith’s Maiden Hurdle. This victory was so impressive that he was soon propelled into the higher classes with the Weatherbys Printing ‘The French Furze’ Novices’ Hurdle in November 2014.

Native River impressed onlookers with his ability to control the race with a steady pace and leading from the front. Backed by trainer C L Tizzard, Native River was starting to make his presence felt in the Grand National horses names but not before achieving victory at the 32RedSport.com 3/1 Mullins Cheltenham Win Novices’ Hurdle.

Owned by Brocade Racing, Native River was just gearing up for greater successes. The year 2015 was reasonably good for the horse as he managed to win three major titles including the bet365 Novices’ Chase at Newbury. Even though he was held up in the near, Native River managed to come out fighting in the last few turns and never relinquished the lead that he took in the before last turn. It was victories like these that made the Grand National runners and riders to take notice.

He was sired by Indian River and he is in the process of making his own great bloodline. If the successes in 2013 and 2015 brought him to the list of top names of Grand National horses, it was the victories in 2016 that truly elevated him to the next level.

After losing to Minella Rocco in a close contest at Cheltenham, he went on to win the Betfred Mildmay Novices’ Chase at Aintree. As one of the favourites to win the race, he stayed untouched for the majority of the race to beat Henri Parry Morgan and Blaklion. This was immediately followed by a close loss against Silsol in the bet365 Hurdle. Even though it was a disappointment, it was quickly forgotten with one of the greatest prizes in the form of the Hennessy Gold Cup win.

He managed to get Grand National runners like Carole’s Destrier to end up winning an incredible prize. Most of the seven wins achieved by Native River have come in the last two years; it is the kind of form shown by the top horses for Grand National 2021.