Native River is set to have the services of Derek O'Connor when he tackles the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham.

The Colin Tizzard-trained six-year-old won a Grade Two at Newbury before finishing third at Kempton and Wetherby.

Leading amateur O'Connor won the four-miler at the 2011 Festival on Gordon Elliott's Chicago Grey.

Tizzard said: " In his last two races he hasn't tried too hard and he will almost certainly run in the four-miler. I think we've secured the services of one of the best Irish amateurs in Derek O'Connor, and that's massive.

"We schooled him in cheekpieces before his run at Wetherby, he was jumping deliberately and going everywhere, but then we schooled him in cheekpieces before his run at Wetherby and he went like a good thing.

"We'll either put blinkers or cheekpieces on at Cheltenham to see if they'll make a difference.

"What he does is stay and if it is genuine good to soft ground he's got a wonderful chance."