'Did Denman put in a better display on his first run in a chase? Probably not'

Paul Nicholls has won more King George VI Chases than any other trainer and in Bravemansgame, who made a seamless chasing debut in the 2m5f intermediate chase, he may well have another future king of Kempton.

The six-year-old will head to the Rising Stars Novices' Chase at Wincanton next, but the trainer is already looking much further ahead.

He said: "Someone asked me today what's his target, and I said the 2022 King George. It might sound clever but that's what we're thinking down the road."

Nicholls was rueing previously comparing the horse to his Gold Cup winner Denman, who took a similar route as a novice hurdler, and explained the two are very different in their homework.

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"Denman showed nothing at home," he said. "He was a bruiser and kept galloping; this horse has always worked nicely and he's got plenty of pace and plenty of class."

"I bet he's not too far behind him [Denman] ability-wise at the moment. Did Denman put in a better display on his first run in a chase? Probably not. But compare them at the end of their careers and not at the start."

He added: "Me and Harry [Cobden, jockey] half thought he'd go and jump like that, but you want to see them do it on the track. The smile on Harry's face when he came back in was like when Ruby [Walsh] rode Kauto Star for the first time."

Nicholls and Cobden also won the 2m1f novice hurdle with Skatman, while Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies likewise enjoyed a double via Ballymillsy and The Newest One.

Results, replays and analysis

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