Nicholls: Denman looks ideal race for Bravemansgame before Aintree

Bravemansgame is set to be Grand National-bound after he goes for gold in the Denman Chase at Newbury.

The choice of Harry Cobden from two representatives of Paul Nicholls, the 10-year-old is a fixture in the biggest staying chases, and while he has not got his head in front since winning the 2022 edition of the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, it was only Galopin Des Champs that stopped him taking the Cheltenham Gold Cup a few months later.

His latest run was in the Christmas showpiece, where he was eighth to Banbridge, having previously been second in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and then third in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

“Bravemansgame had two hard races earlier in the season and I don’t think he was quite at his best at Kempton where he paid the price for chasing the free-running Il Est Francais,” Nicholls said in his Betfair blog.

“I’ve freshened him up since then, taken off the blinkers and am fitting a tongue tie at the suggestion of Harry Cobden. This looks an ideal race for Bravemansgame’s final start before the Grand National.”

Nicholls also saddles the Freddie Gingell-ridden Hitman, a horse very familiar with the William Hill-sponsored feature, finishing runner-up for the past two seasons.

“He is extremely consistent and so hard to place because he gets no help from the handicapper. He ran another cracker when an excellent second under top-weight at Ascot last time,” Nicholls added.

“He arguably ran a career best chasing home Shishkin 12 months ago and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see him go close again.”

Jamie Snowden’s Ga Law is bidding to get his head back in front as he steps out of handicap company.

The nine-year-old has two big Cheltenham handicap successes to his name and was placed at Grade Two level last season when runner-up in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown on his final run of the campaign.

He returned this season in good form to finish second again at Chepstow, and was subsequently runner-up for a third consecutive time when handing over his title in the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

A return to Cheltenham for the December Gold Cup followed, but he was out of luck when carrying plenty of weight, finishing ninth.

Providing the ground does not deteriorate, he will now be returned to Grade Two level, with Gavin Sheehan in the saddle.

Snowden said: “He’s had a good season, second in the Paddy Power, which made it three straight seconds after good runs in a Grade Two at Sandown and two nice handicaps, prior to slightly disappointing last time.

“We just felt he was carrying decent weights in handicaps, so we should probably chance our arm back in a Grade Two again.

“It’s a shame we’ve got a penalty for winning that race on Trials day last year but he comes in here in good order, although he wants good ground, or better ground, so I hope the ground does dry up a bit and it’s decent ground at Newbury – if it’s not, then we won’t be running.”

Venetia Williams’ Djelo has been in good form this term with a second-placed run in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November.

He then won the Peterborough Chase ahead of Protektorat by a good margin a month later and subsequently lined up for the Fleur De Lys Chase at Windsor, where the form was reversed and he came home a well-beaten second.

The Denman is somewhat uncharted territory for the seven-year-old, who steps up to a two-mile-seven-furlong trip for the first time.

“He’s come back from Windsor all right. To be honest, the original idea was the Game Spirit, but 20 minutes before closing, I had a look at the entries and then had a look at the Denman and I thought ‘blimey, he needs to be in that as well’,” Williams told Sky Sports Racing.

“At the end of the day, it’s only a furlong further than the Fleur De Lys. He disappointed in that race, but it’s only a couple of furlongs further than the Peterborough, so we’ll see.

“It’s a step in a new direction for him and there’s few races for them at this time of the season. If you want to give them another run before the middle of next month (Cheltenham), there’s few races to choose from.”