Virgin Bet Many Clouds Chase
Grade 2 Handicap,
Mildmay Course, Aintree 14:40
£60,000 added,
3m 210yds, Class 1   entries
Saturday 7th December 2019

1 Native River 5/6F
2 Black Corton 5/1
3 Outlander 40/1
4 ran Distances: 33l, 6l
Time: 6m 39.10s (slow by 32.10s)

Just four runners went to post for a Grade Two contest that promised a fascinating rematch between the Colin Tizzard-trained Native River and Nicky Henderson’s Might Bite, who fought out an epic finish to the blue riband at Prestbury Park in March, 2018.

Both horses were fitted with differing headgear, with Native River sporting blinkers for the first time and Might Bite with cheekpieces in a bid to rekindle the enthusiasm that was so lacking throughout last season.

The big two went toe to toe from flag-fall, but the contest was effectively over after just four fences, with Might Bite blundering and unseating Nico de Boinville – leaving 5-6 favourite Native River in splendid isolation, with Black Corton and Outlander never in contention.

From that point Native River jumped well in the main, pursued by the riderless Might Bite.

And despite Richard Johnson easing him down to a trot on the run-in, the chestnut gelding still came home with 33 lengths in hand.

The champion jockey said: “The blinkers might have sharpened him up a little bit, but he just definitely felt much more his old self today.

“Last year he only ran three times, really well in three big races. But there was a bit more spark about him today, so it was great.

“Might Bite obviously went early, and it’s good to see they were OK.

“Again, he just had a bit more zip about him today. Cheltenham in March is the obvious main target, but I’m sure he’ll have a couple more runs between now and then.”

Owner Garth Broom was asked about the Grand National, and said: “We’re not ruling it out. The race for him now is the Welsh National.”

Many Clouds Chase
(Grade 2) (Mildmay Course)
£60,000 added, 3m 210yds, Class 1
4 ran
Going: Good to Soft

POS DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     Native River 9 11-0 Colin Tizzard Richard Johnson 5/6F
2 33 Black Corton 8 11-6 Paul Nicholls Bryony Frost 5/1
3  6 Outlander 11 11-0 2 Richard Spencer Sam Twiston-Davies 40/1
UR     Might Bite 10 11-0 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 7/4