Tactics can be a friend to find the next-best to Native River in Denman Chase

Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) | 2m7½f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Native River, the 2018 Gold Cup winner, has been creeping closer in the betting for this year's renewal. Faced with a supposedly easy task in this substandard Grade 2, what can he do to further enhance his claims?

The answer is not a great deal. Barring mishap, he should win this race without having to reach for the depths of the ability he retains. On the vague indications of what he had in the Many Clouds in December, he still has more or less all of what he did when fending off Might Bite two years ago.

This race is an opportunity for new rider Jonjo O'Neill jnr to display his talents, more so than his mount.

In one sense, the reopposing Might Bite is the angle in this race. He has looked desperately out of form this season and, in any without-the-favourite markets, he will be a market leader to take aim at. The issue is, which of the other five, all rated in the 140s by the BHA, can we choose?

Secret Investor is the rightful favourite in that regard, having looked progressive before flopping in the December Gold Cup at a time his yard was fairly quiet.

He is priced accordingly and his credentials at three miles remain untested at a high level. The pace was steady when he finished second to Ok Corral in last year's Hampton Novices' Chase. He would be likely, if not certain, to handle three miles against good horses.

Horses rated 20lb lower than Native River may not be able to lay a glove on him, but one who should at least be asked to try is The Two Amigos.

He made much of the running in the Welsh National, jumping the last within three lengths before fading.

He is a likely pace angle – O'Neill may even be content to let Matt Griffiths have the lead – and the likelihood of a positive ride increases his chances of winning the race among the rest.
Keith Melrose, betting editor

There will be some long faces if Native River does not belatedly add a third Denman Chase to his roll of honour ahead of another tilt at the Magners Gold Cup.

The winner in 2017 and 2018 was odds-on to win last year's race before equine flu intervened and he bypassed the rearranged Ascot substitute won by Clan Des Obeaux.

Jonjo O'Neill jnr: steps into Richard Johnson's boots for the ride on Native River after schooling him on Wednesday.Credit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"For a Grade 2, this is not a strong race," said trainer Colin Tizzard. "It's a lovely race for him and he is very good round Newbury.

"We don't know which Might Bite is going to turn up but Native River is in good form."

This expectation adds pressure on Jonjo O'Neill jr as he steps into Richard Johnson's boots for the ride, having schooled the ten-year-old on Wednesday.

O'Neill said: "I definitely think he is still Gold Cup class. I don’t get too nervous about races. I was excited when I got told I had the ride, but I’ve got other horses to think about first and I will wake up on Saturday and try to treat it like a normal race."

Might Bite got closest to Native River when runner-up, beaten four and a half lengths, in the 2018 Gold Cup but has blotted his copybook for the last two seasons.

Nicky Henderson spied a window of opportunity in putting Might Bite into the race when it was reopened.

"He’s been great for us and he’s a gorgeous horse that everybody loves and is full of character. It was only on Monday morning while we were doing a media day that we noticed there were only two horses in.

"As it turned out a few more were entered too but we’ve decided to go with him. We’ve been doing a few different things with him and he seems very happy and well in himself at home. All I want him to do is go and enjoy himself."

What the stats say

Paul Nicholls is seeking his tenth win in this race in the 20th running. His first winner See More Business (2000) is one of only two ten-year-olds to win what has otherwise been a younger chaser's race.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Secret Investor
He'll love the ground – the more it dries out the better – and he's a spring horse. On form, he is playing for second place, but I wouldn't be surprised if he finished a good second.

Gary Moore, trainer of A Toi Phil
I've been very pleased with him but this is throwing him in the deep end on his first run for us but he needs to get a run under his belt with his main aim the Grand National.

Noel George, assistant trainer of Activial
He had a bit of a setback after his unseat at Haydock last time but he's back to himself and in good form. It looks an open race, so we thought we'd give it a go.

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