Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River© Photo Healy Racing
Gold Cup hero Native River and King George winner Clan Des Obeaux are among 10 entries for Saturday's Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.
Colin Tizzard's Native River is looking for a third successive win in the race but has plenty of ground to make up on Paul Nicholls' Clan Des Obeaux, who finished over 13 lengths in front of him when bursting on to the big-race scene at Kempton.
"At Kempton he jumped out to the left. That’s twice he has been there, and he hasn’t been at ease," said Tizzard.
"He stayed on well at Kempton - that’s all we can take out of the race. I think he is almost unbeaten at Newbury, so this was always going to be our prep race.
"I think the King George winner is going there as well. But this is our prep race for the Gold Cup.
"I think the course at Newbury will suit him better. He is a strong stayer and he has very good form round Newbury. We will see what the entries are like. If they have the forecast rain and it’s good to soft, he’ll be there."
Nicholls, of course, trained Denman - winner of the 2008 edition of this Grade Two event, and it has carried his name since 2012. Nicholls' most recent success came a year later with Silviniaco Conti.
Coneygree, winner of the Gold Cup in 2015, has been entered by Mark and Sara Bradstock. He picked up another minor injury when unseating in the King George.
Leopardstown's loss on Sunday could potentially be Newbury's gain, with two who were supposed to run in the Irish Gold Cup but pulled out because of the ground now in the mix.
Tony Martin’s Gold Cup third Anibale Fly and Gordon Elliott’s Noble Endeavor could make the journey over.
Nicky Henderson has entered Beware The Bear, following his good win last time out, and Gold Present.
Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Ballyhill, Tom Lacey’s Thomas Patrick and Harry Fry's The Last Samuri complete the 10.
