O'Dwyer happy with Native Upmanship

RACING: Conor O'Dwyer can warm up for his King George VI ride on Native Upmanship by riding a treble at Navan today.

The 36-year-old has never ridden in the Kempton showpiece before but he believes the Arthur Moore-trained star has a major shout against Best Mate and Florida Pearl - if he stays the distance.

Native Upmanship has some excellent placed form over three miles but has yet to win at the distance. O'Dwyer said yesterday if the horse is ever to win at the trip then Kempton is the place it will happen.

"If he ever gets it, it will be at Kempton which is flat and easy and I don't imagine there will be a great pace in the race.

"People knock him because of the three miles but he has top class form and if he gets it on Thursday he goes there with every shout.

"He was super when he won that Durkan at Punchestown. He jumped quicker and I was very pleased with him," the former Gold Cup-winning rider said.

O'Dwyer can successfully kick today off when Scarthy Lad has a second start over hurdles. The first one at Thurles was extremely impressive and the horse could be a reasonable price today with the Gowran-winner Khetaam in the field.

Another horse that was very impressive at Thurles last time is Eskimo Jack who goes straight into handicap company with 12st on his back in the Santa Claus Handicap Chase.

The six-year-old trounced the opposition in novice company, beating Quadco by nine easy lengths and even 12st doesn't look enough to stop the Moore runner following up.

O'Dwyer and Moore could also hold the solution to the Beginners Chase as Cadou Royal should find today's company more agreeable than he faced at Naas last time.

Cadou Royal ran third to Le Coudray and Ricardo and on pretty testing conditions he looks a better option than the Catterick failure Ground Ball.

The Tipperary bumper-winner Commanche Course, a stable companion of Scarthy Lad, will have his supporters in the maiden hurdle but Amhran Na Bhfiann looks the best option among a strong Christy Roche squad in the race and could emerge best.

Roche runs the newcomer Adarma for JP McManus in the bumper but Philip Fenton looks a significant booking for Polly's Dream.