Native River looks in a different league to his rivals and a worthy long odds-on favourite to land a third success in the 3m Grade 2 Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday (15:00).
This Colin Tizzard trained 10-year-old is a class act who has a strike rate of just under 54 per cent over fences, having won nine of his 17 starts.
He landed back-to-back runnings of this in 2017 and 2018. Native River went on to enjoy his finest hour after the latter when powering home to beat Might Bite by 4 1/2 lengths in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The son of Indian River also ran well in last year’s renewal of chasing’s blue riband contest at the home of jumps racing when a 9 1/4 length fourth of 16 to Al Boum Photo. His cause was not helped by being slowly away from the start.
Native River comes into this year’s Denman Chase having looked as good as ever on seasonal reappearance when registering a facile wide-margin success in a similar grade affair at Aintree.
Plenty in hand on official ratings
He took up the running at the third and was then left in a big lead when main Many Clouds Chase market rival Might Bite blundered and unseated his rider at the next.
Native River then drew effortlessly clear to win unchallenged by 33 lengths from Black Corton – despite clouting the third last.
It was a bloodless victory over a rival rated just 4lb his inferior going into the contest.
There was simply nothing not to like about the way in which Native River got the job done in such a professional manner.
That win has earned him a rating of 168, the highest in the seven-runner line up.
It puts him 5lb clear of old rival Might Bite, who has been shocking in his last three runs and now has huge questions to answer.
Given that the third best in on ratings is Secret Investor off 149, it very much makes Native River the one to beat in this.
Granted a clear round, it’s very hard to see him not winning this with the minimum of fuss en route to another crack at the Gold Cup.
Cramped odds of 1/3 with 888Sport thus look fully justified for Native River here.
All eyes on Supreme prospect Chantry House in opener
In the 2m novices’ hurdle that gets proceedings underway on a top class seven-race card (13:15), the hugely exciting Chantry House is fully expected to land the spoils and further enhance his Cheltenham Festival claims.
After winning two of his three starts in Irish points, this five-year-old was purchased for a hefty sum by leading owner JP McManus and sent to join trainer Nicky Henderson.
He had a huge reputation ahead of his first start for the Seven Barrows handler in a 12-runner Warwick bumper.
Supporters who backed Chantry House into 8/13 favourite never had an anxious moment, though.
Under a confident ride from Barry Geragthty, the son of Yeats made stealthy headway travelling powerfully four out.
He was nudged into the lead a furlong from home, then drew effortlessly clear under a hands and heels ride to easily beat Edwardstone by 3 1/2 lengths.
The form is strong as the runner-up won his first two starts this season before finishing second last time out in a Grade 2.
Impressive on hurdles debut at Cheltenham
It was a performance which oozed class, and marked out Chantry House as a very exciting prospect that needed keeping firmly onside.
That view was confirmed when he justified favouritism to make a winning debut over hurdles at Cheltenham in December when beating Stolen Silver by 1 3/4 lengths.
Under a confident ride from Barry Geraghty, Chantry House travelled strongly on the heels of the leader before being produced to challenge at the last.
Despite then showing distinct signs of inexperience, he quickened up nicely and only had to be ridden out to score with plenty to spare.
It was a most taking display and the runner-up has since come out and landed a Grade 2 at Haydock. Pileon, who finished fourth, has also won twice since, so again the form looks really solid.
On the back of it, Chantry House has been talked about as a leading Supreme Novices’ Hurdle contender at next month’s Cheltenham Festival.
He therefore has to be winning this to book his place at Prestbury Park’s premier jumps meeting. Chantry House can be backed at 8/15 with Betfair to do just that.
One For The Team weighted to strike in handicap hurdle on Denman Chase day
Elsewhere on Denman Chase day, One For The Team makes plenty of appeal in the 3m handicap hurdle (13:50) after running really well on both of his starts this season.
In the first of those over this course and distance in a competitive 18-runner class 2, the Nick Williams trained six-year-old was arguably an unlucky loser when a neck second to Champers On Ice off a mark of 128.
One For The Team tracked the leaders going nicely on the inside under 5lb claimer Chester Williams, but showed signs of inexperience at several obstacles which cost him vital ground.
However, the son of Shirocco had little difficulty making up the lost leeway to close up travelling strongly two from home.
It was at this point that the winner kicked clear under a positive ride from Tom Scudamore to pinch valuable lengths and One For The Team got caught on the backfoot.
That resulted in him playing catch-up at a vital stage, so it was to his credit that he stayed on powerfully to be gaining hand over fist at the finish.
One For The Team has since finished a solid 2 3/4 lengths third of 14 in a class 2 Pertemps Qualifier over 3m 1f at Warwick off 2lb higher, where he led three out and held every chance at the last before being unable to quicken on the run-in.
This looks a less competitive class 2 affair, so another 2lb rise in the weights looks more than fair, and the drop back in trip looks sure to suit.
A revised rating of 130 could still seriously underestimate One For The Team’s ability, given his lightly-raced and progressive profile.
So, at 100/30 with BetVictor, he looks well worth a punt here to gain a first success over the obstacles.
