Paul Nicholls expects King George hero Clan Des Obeaux to improve for his run in the Denman Chase at Newbury on Saturday

PAUL NICHOLLS has warned punters than Clan Des Obeaux will not be at his peak in the Denman Chase on Saturday.

The 10-time champion trainer is using the Newbury Grade 2 as a stepping stone to the Cheltenham Gold Cup with his up-and-coming star.

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The King George hero will lock horns once again with defending Gold Cup champion Native River in a mouth-watering clash this weekend.

But Nicholls believes his seven-year-old will improve for the run, with the Cheltenham Festival blue riband very much his main aim.

Nicholls said: "He schooled this morning and jumped well, I'm looking forward to running him.

"I didn't really want to get into a scrap with Native River, but there are not many options for him.

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"We've always done well running at Newbury with Denman and Kauto, then going on to the Gold Cup.

"I think it's hard for a horse to run at Kempton then go to the Gold Cup and expect them to run at their very best.

"We've worked him away, but I've not been hard on him and he will improve for Saturday until the Gold Cup.

"You don't want them at their best now, but fit enough to do themselves justice."

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He continued: "He is a King George winner and they win Gold Cups. He is a progressive young horse.

"Last season we had a splint with him and he ran well at Aintree to be third and I thought with improvement this season he will be right up there at the top.

"His improvement from Haydock to Kempton was enormous and Harry (Cobden) had a great feel off him at Haydock as he said straight away he would ride him in the King George.

"He went there travelled well and jumped well. He jumped two out with his ears pricked and won very nicely.

"One thing he doesn't do is a whole heap in front.

"In the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup last year he got to the front and half pulled himself up and got beat."

Clan Des Obeaux is a 7-4 shot for Saturday's Denman Chase behind 10-11 jolly Native River.

The pair are also prominent in the betting for the Gold Cup, as 10-1 and 11-2 shots respectively.