Colin Tizzard is eyeing the Grade Two Many Clouds Chase at Aintree Racecourse a week on Saturday for Native River's seasonal return.
But the veteran chaser's participation will be dependent on the going at the home of the Randox Grand National - with the Coral Welsh National at Chepstow over Christmas an alternative for the now 11-year-old.
The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner was due to run in last Saturday's Betfair Chase at Haydock Park, but with the ground unseasonably good at the Merseyside venue connections are now waiting for his preferred softer going.
Native River won over the Mildmay fences at Aintree as a novice chaser and also landed the Many Clouds Chase in 2019. He was third in the 3m1f contest last year, while he is also a former Welsh National winner back in 2016.
He also finished third in the Betway Bowl in Liverpool on his most recent start in April.
And Tizzard's son and assistant Joe said: "Native River is ready to run - he was ready to run in the Betfair Chase at the weekend, but we promised ourselves to run him in his ideal conditions, so we are just waiting on the rain. It was a bit frustrating, really.
"He has a Welsh National entry, but we are leaning towards the Many Clouds and hoping it will rain in the next fortnight.
"The Many Clouds is the next option for him, as he is fit and ready to run and that's the favourite for him.
"He is 11 now, going on 12, and still retains a lot of ability, and we just want it to rain. So, as long as the rain comes, he'll go to Aintree.
"We haven't had a drop of rain for three or four weeks, which is not something we are used to at this time of year and it is not fair to run him on ground that is not perfect for him."
