RACING: Native Upmanship is on course for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival after relishing the testing conditions in the Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles yesterday.

Barry Cash's mount cruised past the front-running Ferbet Junior approaching the home turn and galloped on strongly to beat Wicked Crack by 10 lengths. "I am praying for rain at Cheltenham and if he has a run before the Queen Mother, it will be in the Newlands Chase at Naas (February 24th)," said trainer Arthur Moore.

Be My Belle, who caused a shock when beating both Boss Doyle and Sackville at Gowran Park last week, had a much simpler task in the opening INH Stallion Owners' EBF Novice Hurdle and duly justified prohibitive odds of 1 to 8 against three inferior rivals. "She will have a little break before the final of this series at Fairyhouse (a three-mile handicap hurdle) on February 23rd," said trainer Sean Treacy.

Eoins Pride provided favourite backers with further joy in the Saddlers Hall Hunters' Chase, but only after getting the better of a protracted battle in the straight with The Wipper.