The Grade 2 Denman Chase (Saturday 9 February) is regarded as one of the main trials for the Cheltenham Gold Cup and it takes place at Newbury over 2 miles 7 furlongs and 86 yards, during which there are 18 fences to jump.
The race was first run in 2000 as the Aon Chase but changed its name to honour the 2008 winner Denman who went on to also win the 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup. Denman is one of four horses to have completed the Denman Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup double in the same season, with Kauto Star, Coneygree, and Native River completing the quartet.
Denman Chase 10-Year-Trends
- Winners have been aged seven, eight, nine, or 10
- Weights carried to victory range from 11-0 to 11-10
- Winners have been rated between 149 and 182
- Only three of the last 10 favourites have won
- SP’s of the winners have ranged from 4/7 to 12/1
- Paul Nicholls has trained three of the last nine winners
- Colin Tizzard has trained the last two winners
Denman Chase 2019 Main Contenders
Native River
The 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner won this race in 2017 and 2018, though both of those renewals were just three runner affairs. He has been beaten in both his starts this season, but Newbury suits this powerful galloper who is unbeaten in four runs over fences at the track. He’s also the joint top-rated horse in the field and the forecast soft ground will help him by making the race more of a test of stamina.
Clan Des Obeaux
The 2018 King George VI Chase winner finished behind Native River in the 2018 Betfair Chase but he turned that form around at Kempton where he showed more natural speed than Native River, who stayed on late to be beaten over 13 lengths. He’s also unbeaten at Newbury, winning here once over fences and once over hurdles, and he’s won on soft ground. Joint top-rated.
Anibale Fly
Late defector from the Irish Gold Cup last weekend and this strong stayer could take to Newbury at the first of asking. However, after being beaten over eight lengths by Native River in last season’s Gold Cup, the 2lb he gets from Native River here shouldn’t be enough for him to turn the form around.
Coneygree
Won this race and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2015 but it’s asking a lot of a 12-year-old to beat the current reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup and King George VI Chase winners, even if he is getting 6lb from both horses. Probably needs to recapture his peak rating of 172 to win and, as the handicapper currently rates him just 159, that’s unlikely.
Denman Chase 2019 Summary & Betting Tip
A clash between the reigning Gold Cup and King George VI Chase winners will be a real feather in the cap for Newbury and either Native River or Clan Des Obeaux could be favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup if winning the 2019 Denman Chase impressively. Having always run up to his best at Newbury, Native River is given the vote over Clan Des Obeaux, with Anibale Fly the most likely beneficiary if the principles flop.
Denman Chase 2019 Tip
Native River