The bookmakers are expecting that Native River will go and dominate this Newbury affair on Saturday. This is the Betfair Denman Chase over 2m 7f 86y. There are seven runners taking on the class 1 challenge and looking at the card, it is going to take something pretty special to bring down the favourite.
Betfair Denman Chase Race Odds*
Native River 3/10
Might Bite 13/2
Secret Investor 9/1
Activial 33/1
A Toi Phil 40/1
The Two Amigos 40/1
Valdez 50/1
* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 20:36 on February 7th 2020)
Horse Racing Betting at Betfair
Table of Contents
Native River To Dominate
Punters may well have a tough time opposing Native River in this Newbury run.The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner comes into this contest with good from behind him. He was out in early December at Aintree taking a from 5/6 in a Class 1 trip at over three miles. He couldn’t defend his Gold Cup title last year, but still ran well with a fourth in the fixture. He will have Jonjo O’Neill in the saddle with usual jockey Richard Johnson out injured. Native River is headss 3/10 odds-on favorite.
Can Might Bite rediscover his best?
The glory days of Might Bite seem to be well behind him. At least that is what his current form suggests. He was out only twice in 2019 where he pulled up in last year’s Gold Cup and then unseated jockey Nico de Boinville at Aintree in the Many Clouds last December.
Trainer Nicky Henderson sent him out on New Year’s Day at Cheltenham and again he pulled up at the last from 12/1. It’s just not happening for the 11-year-old and it is hard to see him taking down Native River in a duel. Might Bite is a 13/2 option for Saturday* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 20:36 on February 7th 2020)
Secret Investor the best of the rest?
On the whole, this is a pretty weak-looking renewal. Secret Investor is being touted as the best of the rest here as a 9/1 option* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 20:36 on February 7th 2020). He was massively disappointing however on his last run. He was in the Capsian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham in December and was 10th of 13 in the Group 3.
Secret Investor did nail two wins in early 2019, one at Wincanton and then at Ayr and will probably be more comfortable in this smaller field than he was at Cheltenham in December. He’s been a fairly steady performer in Class 1 runs between 2m 3f and 3m efforts. His last run, however, does leave a lot to desire.
The rest of the runners
A Toi Phil is heading to Newbury on the back of a win. This will be his first run for his new stable as well. In September last year he claimed a victory in a Listowel chase. Besides course and distance winner Native River, A Toi Phil is the only other runner in the field who has won at distance.
The Two Amigos was last out at the Welsh National in December and it wasn’t a bad effort in coming home 5th of 17. But doesn’t exactly look a great threat to the favourite. Neither does 13-year-old Valdez who has never won above 2m 5f. Last time out it was a fourth-place finish for him by 17l in a Wincanton Chase.
Predictions & Tips
Native River’s demolition of Might Bite at the 2018 Gold Cup still feels pretty fresh in the memory. At the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree in December the two went head to head. It ended in a win for Native River and Might Bite was visibly tiring a couple out before pulling up.
The same outcome should crop up in this one in terms of Native River securing the win. That leaves an unfavourable market, so Secret Investor at 11/8 for a second-place finish may be the nod* (betting odds taken from Betfair at 20:36 on February 7th 2020).
Bet365 ITV 4/1 Offer
The Betfair Denman Chase 2020 is live on ITV.
Back a single winner at 4/1 odds with Bet365 on an ITV Race or Bet365 Feature race, and then you can take a bet to the same stake (up to the maximum of £50) on the next ITV live/Bet365 feature race, which will, in turn, be refunded if the wager loses.
This applies to the FIRST single bet placed on each race shown live on ITV Racing or is a nominated Bet365 Feature Race.
Sat 8th – Newbury & Warwick – ITV4
NEWBURY
13:50 The Betfair Bet In-Play Handicap Hurdle Race
14:25 The Betfair Exchange Steeplechase (Grade 2)
15:00 The Betfair Denman Steeplechase (Grade 2)
15:35 The Betfair Hurdle Race (Handicap) (Grade 3)
WARWICK
14:05 The Kingmaker Novices’ Steeple Chase (Grade 2)
14:40 The St Mary’s Lands Warwick Mares’ Hurdle Race (Nhmops Bonus Race)
15:15 The Warwick Castle Handicap Steeple Chase
18+ Please Gamble Responsibly. See bookmaker for full T&Cs
Key Terms & Conditions
This offer is only available to new and eligible customers and applies to the FIRST single bet placed by a customer on each race shown live on ITV Racing. This offer will not apply where a stake has been fully Cashed Out. Where a stake has been partially Cashed Out, any refund amount or subsequent risk-free bet amount will be equal to the remaining active stake.
Where more than one selection in the same race is placed on the same bet slip, the first selection is deemed to be the one which is highest on the bet slip. Offer applies to bets placed on Win and Each Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only.
Risk-free bets must be placed on the next eligible race using your own funds – if your bet loses then the stake will be refunded to your account shortly after the race. Refund up-to £50 per race. The first bet on a race will be deemed as your qualifying bet. If you back the winner of the last race on any day, your risk-free bet will be the first bet you place on the next qualifying race.
