Richard Johnson excited by prospect of Grand National bid for Native River

Richard Johnson has welcomed confirmation that connections of his 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Native River are increasingly inclined towards allowing him to take his chance in next April's Randox Health Grand National.

Johnson has been champion jockey for the last four seasons and along with Barry Geraghty is one of only two current riders who have won all four of Cheltenham's premiere races, but the Grand National still eludes him after 21 attempts.

He has finished second in the race twice, collared in the last 75 yards when What's Up Boys went down by a length and three-quarters to Bindaree in 2002, then beaten a more decisive five lengths by Pineau De Re on Balthazar King in 2014.