Leading contenders to skip Welsh National after Native River's defection

Native River's withdrawal from next week's Coral Welsh Grand National has caused several of those towards the head of the weights to defect with the 7lb rise enough to put off connections of Ballyoptic, Lake View Lad and Crievehill.

The trio – now second, third and fifth in the weights behind favourite Elegant Escape – are to be diverted elsewhere, while connections of the well-backed pair Now McGinty and Potters Corner will take their medicine in the belief that the £150,000 contest remains the right target.

"He is probably going to the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby, which he won last year," said Nick Alexander, trainer of Lake View Lad, after speaking with owner Trevor Hemmings' racing manager Michael Meagher.

"The weights are obviously going up and I think that probably puts us off. I think if Native River had stayed in we might have been tempted to go to Wales rather than carry top weight at Wetherby."

Nigel Twiston-Davies confirmed that Ballyoptic would also not run, while Crievehill will take his chance at in the Dave Dawes Silver Cup at Ascot on Saturday.

A winner of the Welsh National with future Aintree heroes Earth Summit and Bindaree, Twiston-Davies is set to rely on Arthur's Gift, who will sneak into the weights proper having been on 9st 8lb with Native River topping the weights.

The Tizzard team announced on Wednesday that 2016 hero Native River would not run at either Chepstow or Kempton over the Christmas period, meaning a significant rise was a certainty.

They will instead rely on last year's winner Elegant Escape and West Approach in their quest for a third Coral Welsh Grand National in four years.

Speaking from Exeter on Wednesday, Tizzard's son and assistant Joe confirmed the stable's running plans for Chepstow, with the recent wet weather a boost to Elegant Escape's hopes of recording back-to-back wins.

"Elegant Escape has been in really lovely shape," said Tizzard. "He ran well in the Ladbrokes Trophy and these conditions, with the rain, should suit him.

"West Approach only ran last weekend but he's come out of it quite well. Native River won't go; he'll have one run before the Gold Cup."

Christian Williams hopes Potters Corner, who was due to race off 10st 4lb before news of Native River's defection, can provide Welsh fans with something to cheer in the principality's biggest race.

Williams has been campaigning his stable star over hurdles in order to protect Potters Corner's chase mark, and could stick with 7lb conditional Jack Tudor in an effort to offset any rise in the weights.

Potters Corner and James Bowen beat Ms Parfois in the Midlands NationalCredit: Steve Davies

"He'll still be the right side of 11st and since he won the Midlands National his next chase was always going to be the Welsh National," said Williams.

"He won well last week and last season when he looked like winning the Eider Chase, it was only three weeks to the Midlands National, when he won impressively. This will be the same turnaround."

Williams is set to repeat the routine before Potters Corner won at Uttoxeter in March, with a trip to Henrietta Knight's yard in Oxfordshire for a session in the loose school on the cards.

Williams added: "I'll probably claim and use Jack, though that's not for definite yet. He went up 10lb for winning the Midlands National, so I would think we'll take 7lb off."

Sponsors Coral make Potters Corner a best-priced 14-1 for the race a week on Friday, while backers of their 6-1 second favourite Now McGinty will be pleased to hear that any rise in the weights has not deterred trainer Stuart Edmunds, whose charge was last seen running Santini to a head at Sandown.

Now McGinty (left) heads Santini over the last at Sandown last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

"It lets more horses into the weights proper, which is a slight negative, but he is rated what he's rated and we've got no option really," said Edmunds.

"10st 6lb would have been ideal but whatever, it's the right race and he's in great form. He's had a nice prep run and they put him up 3lb for that, which I was happy with.

"He goes on very soft ground, he's schooled well and I couldn't be happier with him."

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