COLIN Tizzard’s bold-running Native River had been on the sidelines since finishing third behind Sizing John in the Gold Cup nearly a year ago.

However, he and Richard Johnson set off in front in the Grade 2 Denman Chase, another three-runner affair, and they were always dominating Cloudy Dream and Saphir Du Rheu, the former giving best by a dozen lengths with Saphir Du Rheu twice that distance away in third.

Native River, who defied a big weight when winning the Welsh Grand National, was in similar mood here.

“At the cross fence (five out), you’d have said the two greys were travelling better than he was,” Tizzard said. “Then, suddenly, he’s eight lengths clear. We’ve seen that with him all last year. He’s hardly blowing.

FRESH

“If the cards had been dealt differently we wouldn’t have waited this long but we had to let that ligament heal or we might not have had anything left for Cheltenham. He’ll be going there the freshest.”

Bookmaker reaction saw Native River challenging Sizing John for second-favouritsm at 13/2 behind 4/1 market leader Might Bite.