Richard Johnson and Nico De Boinville go head-to-head as Native River and Might Bite clash in the Betfair Chase

THE STAGE is set for the first heavyweight showdown of the winter.

Two of jumps racing's big guns are aiming their sights at Haydock's £200,000 Betfair Chase on Saturday.

Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Native River will again lock horns with Might Bite, who came off second best when the pair fought out a memorable finish at the Festival in March.

Colin Tizzard's star chaser was ridden by three-time champ Richard Johnson that day.

The eight-year-old's climb up staying ranks started when Johnson took over in the saddle in April 2016, but the humble 41-year-old is keen to deflect praise onto his horse.

Johnson said: "He is a very, very good horse so I think most jockeys would have hit it off with him like I have.

IN THE NIC OF TIME De Boinville cleared to ride in the Betfair Chase on Saturday

"I think it's more about him and not so much me!

"He's just got such a fantastic attitude. He jumps well, he's straightforward and he stays all day.

"I was in the right place at the right time."

The market for the Betfair is headed by Might Bite at 11-10, with Native River next best at 3-1 ahead of defending champion Bristol De Mai.

Nicky Henderson's Might Bite won the King George last term but was found wanting up the Cheltenham hill in the Gold Cup.

He will be ridden on Saturday by Nico De Boinville, who was given the green light by docs on Thursday to return to the saddle after an injury.

The top jock can't wait to get back on board the nine-year-old, who is giving him all the right signs at home.

De Boinville said: "I've sat on him a couple of times recently and he seems in really good order.

"His work has been very good so we have got every reason to be positive going into the race.

"But I'm sure all the other trainers are very positive about their horses. It's going to be a very good race."

On official ratings, Native River is the best horse in the Betfair Chase, but the bookies favour Henderson's hotpot for the three-mile marathon.

But Dicky Johnson is having none of it and feels his horse is the one to beat this weekend.

He said: "I think he is the best staying chaser in training, and the handicapper feels that way too.

"Might Bite is a very talented horse and is obviously very good.

"The soft track at Cheltenham for the Gold Cup helped Native River who is a very strong stayer.

"There are those who think Might Bite would have got by me on good ground - but I'm not convinced."

De Boinville, currently in 12th position in the Stobart Jockeys Championship with Johnson leading the way, is confident that Might Bite will pack a mighty punch with conditions in his favour.

He continued: "It's definitely what we wanted for him on his comeback, we wouldn't have wanted it heavy which is what it tends to be like at Haydock around this time of year.

"That would have played into the hands of Native River and Bristol De Mai.

"Good ground around a nice sharp track like Haydock will play to our strengths for sure."

Johnson, who is seeking his first win in the Betfair Chase, dismissed the idea that Native River needs knee-deep ground to show his best.

The champ said: "He's got form on all sorts of ground but he actually moves very well.

"Going into his Welsh National win, the Tizzard team were actually worried about the soft ground.

"I sat on him the other day at Exeter and he felt really well in himself. He is only an eight-year-old, there is no reason why he can't be at least as good as he was last year.

"Haydock is a different track to Cheltenham but it's not that dissimilar to Newbury being flat and left-handed.

"Some of the performances of his life have come around Newbury, so I don't think the track will be a problem."

However, in the Gold Cup, Might Bite travelled better than Native River, and De Boinville reckons he's got the classier animal on his side.

He said: "We know that Native River likes to go a good gallop and he seems like he will stay forever.

"But I'm hoping that my horse's class on the good ground will make a big difference.

"It's going to be a good race between them."

While Johnson admitted he found it hard to fault Might Bite, he believes Native River's never-say-die mindset will see him come out on top.

Johnson said: "I think Native River's biggest asset is his attitude. If every horse I rode had his outlook my life would be very, very easy.

"It's hard to find a flaw with Might Bite.

"In his younger days for sure there was perhaps a chink in his armour and he looked to have his own ideas. It's difficult to knock the horse now.

"But the Tizzard horses are in fantastic form. I wouldn't swap him."