The Grade 2 Denman Chase is named after one of the great staying chasers and a former Gold Cup winner. Native River was the last horse to do the double in 2018, but while this field lacks the depth of his renewals, Joe Napier previews an intriguing running with eight runners set for post.
Last season saw Shishkin record his final career victory at odds of 8/11 for Nicky Henderson and Nico De Boinville.
BRAVEMANSGAME
(Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden)
Undoubtedly the most talented horse here on his day, Bravemansgame would be very well suited by this race’s conditions if able to summon some of his best form. However, the former Gold Cup runner-up is winless since his 2022 King George success, which would have seemed unthinkable at the time.
His protracted battle with Galopin Des Champs when second in the 2023 Gold Cup has clearly had an effect. Since then, his form has noticeably dipped despite going close in defending his King George in 2023 and twice finishing second in the Charlie Hall. His eighth in the 2024 King George last time out was slightly alarming and given how difficult he is to win with, it is difficult to recommend him despite the obvious chance he should have at the weights.
DJELO
(Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch)
Even in a patch of weaker form, Venetia Williams’ yard are still firing in winners at a decent strike rate. Djelo is swiftly becoming one of the yard’s star performers, being a two-time Grade 2 winner who is evidently capable of top tier form on his best day as he slammed Ryanair winner Protektorat in Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase in December.
Either side, he was a narrow loser on return at Exeter in the Haldon Gold Cup, though Protektorat firmly got revenge at Windsor in Fleur De Lys Chase. Williams’ charge was a distant second that day and his profile is rapidly suggesting that his form is far superior going right-handed. As a result, and conceding weight in penalties all-round, he is opposable on this first try at 3m at this left-handed track.
HITMAN
(Paul Nicholls/Freddie Gingell)
On a longer losing run even that stablemate Bravemansgame, Hitman does not have the cutting edge to get himself over the line despite evident talent. He was runner-up in this last year when travelling smoothly throughout the race, but ultimately finding little for pressure, as has been the story of his career.
He has been second on his last two starts in handicap company off high marks, so he continues to run well on his better days. He will likely do so here as well, in receipt of weight from all those penalised, but he has now won just one of his last 18 races and has to be opposed on that basis.
LE PATRON
(Gary & Josh Moore/David Noonan)
The most recent Grade 1 winner in the field, Le Patron scorched to successes on his first three chase starts, which included that Grade 1 win in the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown. Since then, life has been tougher, but there has still been one very impressive victory among three disappointments.
The win came at this venue when blitzing his field in a 2m4f handicap off 146 in November. He then suffered a heavy defeat at Cheltenham when upped 7lb, but he has now been below par twice at Prestbury Park. Back here, things could well be different, so while he has a 3lb penalty, he is respected with this trip potentially to suit.
THE FIELD
Ga Law is another horse for whom second had become a habit, filling that position three times in a row prior to a rare blip at Cheltenham last time out. However, the first of those runner-up efforts came at this level when easily ahead of Hitman, albeit second to Fantastic Lady, but that is solid enough form, as was his second in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, which suggests he is worth a go back in this company.
Veterans Sam Brown and Eldorado Allen are still capable of very decent handicapping efforts, with the former not far behind Bravemansgame in the Charlie Hall. Nevertheless, this should still be a bridge too far, while Fugitif has an alternative engagement at Warwick, and is not in the same form as this time last season.
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Plenty of these find winning more difficult than it should be. Bravemansgame would win if even a stone below his very best form, but that is risky to count on, while Hitman will almost certainly be bang there without getting over the line. Djelo is better going right-handed and carries the maximum penalties, so perhaps the best options are LE PATRON and Ga Law, with the former narrowly preferred. He could well appreciate this 3m distance and won so takingly in a handicap here in November that he could step up to the challenge. Ga Law is usually reliable and should bounce back form a below par effort last time out, so is feared most.
- Le Patron
- Ga Law
- Bravemansgame
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