The Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival meeting (March 12) is next on the agenda for Native Upmanship, who readily justified prohibitive odds in the Grade 2 MacLochlainn Road Markings Limited Kinloch Brae Chase at a bitterly cold Thurles.
The Arthur Moore-trained gelding appears best suited by this intermediate distance of two and a half miles and, after leading approaching the final fence, stretched clear under Conor O'Dwyer to beat Arctic Copper by a facile three and a half lengths.
'That's a nice confidence booster and, while the Ritz Club Chase at Ascot next month is tempting, he will go straight for the Queen Mother,' said Moore, who also confirmed that the gelding will bid to follow up last year's win in 'the two and a half miler at Aintree'.
Bookmakers prices for the Queen Mother were left unchanged after the performance, with Cashmans going 12/1 Native Upmanship and Ladbrokes offering 10/1.
Be My Belle could still line out in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup at Leopardstown on Sunday week despite finishing only third in the Durkan New Homes Anaglog's Daughter EBF Mares Novice Chase. The Sean Treacy-trained mare lost considerable ground when reluctant at the start, and could only keep on onepaced behind Come In Moscow.
'She jumped her way to the front, and Keith (Hadnett) gave her a great ride,' said successful trainer John Murphy, while Treacy was not too downbeat afterwards. 'It's easy to make excuses but she lost 15 lengths at the start, and was beaten only eight. The shorter trip on a tighter course was also against her.'
Emmet may bid for a quick hat-trick over the same trip at Clonmel next Thursday after landing the two and three quarter miles novice hurdle in the hands of Norman Williamson. Edward O'Grady's charge travelled strongly to challenge Heads On The Ground in the straight, but needed to be driven right out after the last to score by a length and a half.
Risky Reef justified favouritism in the two miles conditions hurdle, although Ruby Walsh's mount made hard work in the closing stages of beating Pay It Forward by three quarters of a length having quickened to the front at the last. 'He's a horse that doesn't want to hit the front too soon, and probably deserves a chance now in a big handicap,' said winning trainer Andrew Lee.
The Wipper made all for an unchallenged 25 length verdict in the hunter chase. Noel McParlan, briefly unconscious after being unseated from Big Zommo at the second fence, was taken to Cashel Hospital for observation.
Alan Magee
