'Freak of an animal' First Flow showing right signs for Champion Chase

The "savage" wellbeing of "winning machine" First Flow is fuelling David Bass's belief he can prove his Clarence House triumph was no flash in the pan in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.

Bass earned plenty of plaudits for his bold and imaginative display at Ascot on the Tony Solomons-owned nine-year-old, who has won ten of his 18 starts.

First Flow is 14-1 with Betfair Sportsbook and Paddy Power to make that 11 in the Champion Chase against the likes of dual winner Altior, hot favourite and new kid on the block Chacun Pour Soi and Politologue, who was successful 12 months ago.

That stellar field prompted trainer Kim Bailey to write on his blog on Friday morning: "The more I look at the Champion Chase, the more frightening the task seems."

David Bass and Kim Bailey after First Flow's Ascot triumphCredit: Edward Whitaker

Bass, a vegan who is enjoying his best campaign, is well up for the challenge.

"The horse won't be too frightened, I'd say," he said. "He's a great horse – a bit of a freak of an animal to be honest.

"He's in great form and I rode him the other day and he tried to kill me when I was tacking him up. He was absolutely savage and I'm told by everyone at home that is a sign of him being in very good form.

"He was trying to bite me and kick me and wouldn't stand still. He's a horse with loads of character and he's got his own routine – he always has to be in front – and he's a credit to the team at home.

"He's turned into a winning machine, so let's give it a go."

Champion Chase card and betting

Bass, who has had three festival winners, pinned First Flow as a mudlark, but is changing his view.

The Tottenham Hotspur fan, who rates Chacun Pour Soi as the biggest threat, was speaking on a video call organised by Great British Racing to promote the Cheltenham Festival.

"We always thought, especially me, that First Flow was a heavy-ground specialist," said the jockey, who revealed during the call his favourite nuts are pistachios.

"I hadn't ridden him on good to soft and most of the lads at Ascot in January would have said the ground was only good to soft in the Clarence House.

"I'm not concerned about the ground. I'd be more concerned about going left-handed. He's been to Cheltenham before but he wasn't right in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2018, so I wouldn't be worried about that particular performance, although he seems more comfortable going right-handed.

"That said, he's won at Wetherby and Doncaster in the last two seasons, so I hope he handles the track."

Read more:

'He was raw but lovely' – Karrie Fanshawe on snapping up Grade 1 hero First Flow

'Let's take on the big guns again' – Bass keen on Champion Chase for First Flow

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