Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 56.45s

Native River^b⁶³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 168| CD

2/5

2018 Gold Cup winner and ran very respectably in that race last year (fourth) he resumed winning ways at Aintree in December. Made all to win by 33L on that occasion (Might Bite unseated rider); should be seen to good advantage here.

Form: 11/234-1

Secret Investor^t⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 149

8/1

Smart chaser who won twice last season over fences his best effort coming when winning an Ayr Grade 2 on his final start. Lightly-raced this season he folded up rather tamely in the Caspian Caviar; needs to bounce back over a trip that should suit.

Form: 2411-20

Activial⁷⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 148

20/1

Reported to have bled when unseating at Haydock when last seen (was struggling at the time). Capable of some smart form on his day but does have plenty to find at the weights and more needed even if he did bounce back.

Form: 2660-3U

A Toi Phil¹⁴⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 142| D

40/1

Very smart chaser at his best who capitalised on a drop in grade on his final start for Gordon Elliott when winning a 2m4f chase at Listowel in September. Now makes his GB/stable debut having cost connections £70,000; faces a stiff task.

Form: 0-00401

Might Bite³⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 163| C

7/2

Top-class chaser at his best who engaged in an epic battle with Native River when second to that one in the 2018 Gold Cup. Rather lost his way of late including when tried over hurdles at Cheltenham last time; hard to endorse currently.

Form: 1/57P-UP

Valdez³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 146| C

50/1

Veteran chaser who rolled back the years at Hereford in November to record his first win since 2014. Ran poorly when last seen and this looks far too tough a test for him at the weights and trip; connections tilting at windmills.

Form: 432-814

Non-Runners

The Two Amigos⁴³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: Nicky Martin J: Matt Griffiths

Forecasts

Native River (2/5), Might Bite (7/2), Secret Investor (8/1), Activial (20/1), The Two Amigos (25/1), A Toi Phil (40/1), Valdez (50/1)

This is far from a strong renewal of this Grade 2 which acts as a Gold Cup trial although its hard to see many of this field making the gig. NATIVE RIVER successful in 2017 and 2018 in this when beating a couple of rivals each time faces a bigger field this time but in a way a lesser challenge and he should take this comfortably. Sifting through the field there don’t appear to be many dangers especially with likely second favourite and old adversary of the selection Might Bite a shadow of his former self. It may well be that Secret Investor is the main danger his previous form giving him a chance at this level. Of the others the progressive Two Amigos makes the most appeal.