Owner Broom sure Gold Cup hero Native River can run big race in King George

Native River has a two-nil record over favourite Might Bite – including when coming out on top in a pulsating Gold Cup in March – and ran all the way to the line when second on his return to action at Haydock last month.

Yet he is only the 15-2 sixth choice with bookmakers to add the 32Red King George VI Chase to his long list of big-race success at Kempton on Wednesday, a price owner Garth Broom hopes will prove wide of the mark.

King George card and betting

"Our tactics will suit Kempton, where you have to be near the pace," said Broom. "Whether one or two might be that bit quicker on that track, where we haven't got the nice uphill finish [as at Cheltenham] to help us, we'll see. I think he'll run his usual solid race and be thereabouts."

Native River (nearest) and Bristol De Mai in the air together during the Betfair Chase at Haydock last monthCredit: Edward Whitaker

Native River came under pressure early on up the long Haydock straight in his comeback run in the Betfair Chase before rallying in typically game fashion to be four lengths second to Bristol De Mai.

"Everyone was very pleased with his run," added Broom, who owns Native River with wife Anne. "They were fairly stiff fences, so he wasn't quite so exuberant, and where he would gain a half length normally, he was occasionally putting down and making sure he got over them all right.

"I'd rather he did that than take too many chances and I thought he ran a superb race."

See how Native River won the Cheltenham Gold CupIt is a quirk of the racing calendar according to Broom that trainer Colin Tizzard has kept Native River to left-handed tracks since he was third in the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton three years ago.

In 2016 the Christmas focus fell on a successful tilt at the Welsh Grand National, while 12 months later Native River was still seven weeks away from his seasonal reappearance at Newbury.

All gold: Native River with owners Anne and Garth Broom and trainer Colin Tizzard the day after their Cheltenham triumphCredit: Edward Whitaker

"We haven't been avoiding going right-handed," said Broom. "He was still a young horse in the Kauto Star and we thought he needed holding up. It was owner and trainer error – we were getting our tactics wrong.

"After he came second in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham we got to Aintree and wondered what to do over a faster three miles. We told Richard [Johnson] to go as fast as he could for as long as he could. It worked and we haven't changed since.

"He hasn't got to lead but likes to be fairly handy. If he gets into a nice rhythm jumping I think he'll run a big race."

If conditions are testing, must not be dismissed, according to part-owner Paul Barber, who has won the Christmas highlight twice with See More Business.

Like See More Business was, Clan Des Obeaux is trained by Paul Nicholls, who seeks a record-extending tenth victory in the £250,000 contest.

Nicholls also runs general 5-1 shot Politologue, while Clan Des Obeaux can be backed at 16-1.

Barber, who part-owns the six-year-old with Ged Mason and legendary ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, is taking heart, however, from See More Business's victory secured under Andrew Thornton when sent off a 10-1 shot in .

He said: "Twenty-one years ago we won the King George at 10-1 with See More Business and if the ground is wet we'd have a squeak with Clan. It wants to be wet, deep ground."

A respectable fourth behind King George rivals Bristol De Mai, Native River and Thistlecrack in last month's Betfair Chase, Clan Des Obeaux has long been held in high regard.

"I've always had a soft spot for him and still have," Barber added. "We've nowhere near seen the best of him. He's only six and there's plenty of time."

Barber is more confident of striking in the 32Red Kauto Star Novices' Chase on Wednesday with the giant .

He ran on encouragingly to finish second when blowing the start at Exeter this month and is held in high esteem at Nicholls' Ditcheat yard.

Barber said: "I really do fancy him. He's a nice horse, a very nice horse. All that stopped him at Exeter last time was he saw the [starter's] flag going down and it frightened him."

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