RACING/Preview: Native Upmanship can take what should be a less than taxing first step towards a possible tilt at the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Thurles today.

Arthur Moore's high-class runner goes in the Grade Two Digifone Kinloch Brae Chase, with Barry Cash replacing the suspended Conor O'Dwyer in the saddle.

It looks a welcome winning opportunity for Native Upmanship who has endured runner-up placings in the Durkan and Ericsson on his most recent starts.

His two-and-a-half-length second to Foxchapel King over Christmas convinced Moore that three miles is beyond Native Upmanship's best and yesterday the trainer confirmed the horse will be taken out of the Hennessy Gold Cup at next Monday's forfeit stage.

Instead, today's race and possibly the Newlands at Naas on February 24th could constitute a preparation for Cheltenham if the Festival ground is soft.

Moore said yesterday: "He is in good form at the moment and the two-and-a-half-mile trip should suit. They will be using fresh ground, so that shouldn't be a problem." The mare Wicked Crack will thrive on the forecast "soft to heavy" surface but it may not be ideal for Killultagh Storm, who is on the back of an eight-length fifth to Turgenev in Ascot's Victor Chandler.

The other small fields could prove the key to punters' fortunes, even though last week's Gowran winner Be My Belle could be unbackable in the opener.

However Shawings, a daughter of the former Triumph Hurdle winner Shawiya, can use her experience against a small field of newcomer to winning effect in the bumper.

Killultagh Thunder goes into the conditions hurdle with a Punchestown hurdles victory and a bumper defeat of Moss Bawn at Leopardstown under his belt. That level of form looks good enough to win.

Native Endurance has continued her consistent hurdles form to her chasing career and can provide a late birthday present for her trainer Paddy Mullins, 83 on Monday, in the mares novice chase.

• Peter Chapple-Hyam ended a long losing streak in Hong Kong yesterday by sending out De Integro to score a decisive win at Happy Valley.