Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2)

Off time: 14:26 | Winning time: 6m 13.1s

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Selected odds by:

Native River^p³³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 166| CD

4/5

Excellent campaign last term included pair of wins here, this race being the second of them, en route to fine third in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Connections said to have remained patient this term, with that top target in mind again. Best on form.

Form: 1/21113-

Cloudy Dream⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 158| BF

9/4

Fine novice campaign last term, second in the Arkle at Cheltenham, some doubts over stamina but beaten only 7L by Grand National fancy Definitly Red at Aintree in the mud over 3m+ last time out. Has a habit of finishing second.

Form: 221-222

Saphir Du Rheu^t1³⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 160| D

4/1

Couple of places behind Native River in the Gold Cup (3¼L) and then picked up an injury when coming down in the Grand National at Aintree. Tongue tie on first-time and perfectly entitled to go close if fully wound up.

Form: 3F215U-

Forecasts

Native River (4/5), Cloudy Dream (9/4), Saphir Du Rheu (4/1)

NATIVE RIVER has been spared a winter campaign in the hopes that going to Cheltenham next month a relatively fresh horse will serve him well. The Tizzard's can be expected to have him tuned up well enough to do himself justice as he bids to land this prize for the second year running. That being the case, he is fancied to give weight and a beating to his pair of rivals. Cloudy Dream has race fitness on his side and appeared to ease some of the fears over his stamina with a sound run at Aintree before Christmas. He's becoming accustomed to finishing second and may do so again. Saphir Du Rheu picked up an injury in the Grand National last season and may have Aintree in his sights once more after this, the Ditcheat runner is perhaps more likely to be in need of this run than the likely market leader.