Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2)

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

1^st

Native River

811-6

4/5f

T: C L TizzardJ: R Johnson

Jumped well, made all, fiddled 12th, reached for next, pushed along before 4 out, in command 2 out, clear before last, kept on strongly to go further clear run-in, unchallenged op 10/11 tchd 4/5 and tchd Evens

2^nd

Cloudy Dream

811-3

9/4

T: Ruth JeffersonJ: B S Hughes

Shade keen, tracked leading pair, 2nd and closed 4 out, held 2 out, soon ridden and no impression, no chance with winner op 5/2

3^rd

Saphir Du Rheu

911-0

4/1

T: P F NichollsJ: Sam Twiston-Davies

Tracked winner until 4 out, beaten before 2 out, mistake last op 3/1 tchd 9/4

Watch Race Replay

Unlimited race replays of all UK & Irish racing

Betting Breakdown

Tote Win:£1.50EX:£2.30Trifecta:£2.20SF:£2.98

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.