Racing Punchestown and Thurles reports: Native Scout, fourth to Isio in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot last month, justified favouritism in the Byrne Group Tied Cottage Chase in good style on heavy ground at Punchestown yesterday.
The eight-year-old could now clash with yesterday's easy Thurles winner Native Upmanship in the Paddy And Helen Cox Memorial Newlands Chase at Naas on February 22nd before a possible trip to Cheltenham for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Barry Geraghty kicked Donal Hassett's charge into the lead before the third-last fence and the 9 to 10 shot stayed on strongly to beat Rathgar Beau by eight lengths.
Native Scout's owner Noel Glynn said: "The horse will now go to Naas in three weeks and he would then go for the Champion Chase providing the ground was soft. The ground was too fast for him at Ascot and he didn't let himself down."
Bookmakers Coral have left Native Scout unchanged on 33 to 1 for the Champion Chase.
Earlier Geraghty had been on the floor when the Dermot Weld-trained Govamix came to grief at the fourth-last flight in the Grade Two Novice Hurdle. The race was won by Kahuna, who put up a game display to make all the running in the Grade Two contest.
Coq Hardi Diamond had his price for the Martell Grand National halved from 100 to 1 to 50 to 1 with Ladbrokes following a hard-fought success over Rule Supreme in the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase. Rule Supreme, who was giving the winner 30lb, had his price cut for Aintree to 40 to 1 for 50 to 1.
What Odds, the 7 to 2 favourite, was pulled up and his odds remain unchanged at 40 to 1. Ladbrokes make Rince Ri their market leader for the National at 14 to 1.
Conor O'Dwyer was spared his blushes when almost caught napping on Native Upmanship in the Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles yesterday.
Arthur Moore's 11-year-old was racing over his best trip of two and a half miles and was always travelling strongly up with the pace. The 1 to 3 favourite cruised clear from three fences out but was eased down on the run-in and was almost caught by the staying-on Davids Lad, who ran a fine Aintree Grand National trial over an inadequate distance.
Native Upmanship held on to land the €50,000 Grade Two contest by a length.
Ladbrokes cut Native Upmanship's odds for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival to 14 to 1 from 20 to 1 while the same firm left Davids Lad's Grand National price unchanged at 20 to 1.
Stashedaway showed her class in the Mares Novice Chase by stylishly accounting for her 16 rivals under a confident ride from Davy Russell. The 5 to 4 favourite raced prominently throughout and pulled clear of the field after the third last to cruise up the straight and account for Rose Perk by 11 lengths.
Saturday's meeting at Fairyhouse was abandoned on safety grounds after five races. The stewards inspected the course and due to the deteriorating conditions, decided to call off the last two races. They made their decision after consulting senior jockeys at the track. The going was heavy, and more rain came down during the afternoon.
