chased leaders, outpaced 3 out, weakened next
in rear, struggling 6th, soon tailed off
tended to jump left, led after 1st, headed after 3rd, chased winner, lost place 6th, weakened from 3 out
held up, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden, kept on under pressure from next, never troubled leaders
tracked leaders, joined winner 7th, bliundered 9th, ridden and outpaced 2 out, 8 lenghts down and no impression when hit last
led to after 1st, tracked leader, led again after 3rd, made rest, ridden 2 out, 8 lengths clear last, stayed on well
held up, outpaced 3 out, soon ridden and no impression, 4th and beaten when hit last
Well Chief, who won this event in 2005 when it was staged as a handicap at Cheltenham, and he has every chance of doing so again today but is strictly held by TWIST MAGIC on their running in the Tingle Creek at Sandown last month despite being 2lbs better in and the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding is taken to land this valuable prize with Petit Robin looking the best of the remainder. The selection finished second in this over course and distance two years ago behind Tamarinbleu on the first occasion when the race was given Grade 1 status before subsequent success in the Grade 1 Champion Chase at the Punchestown Festival. Twist Magic disappointed last season until landing the Celebration Chase at Sandown in April and built on his reappearance run with a smooth victory in the Tingle Creek and a reproduction of the form shown that day may well suffice. Nick Williams has been doing well with his runners of late but Cornas needs to step up on his form this season to trouble the judge, while Alan King's Oh Crick has plenty to find on Exeter form and represents a stable that is seemingly out of form at present. Fix The Rib seemed beaten when falling at Kempton at their Christmas meeting in the Desert Orchid Chase behind Petit Robin and Nicky Henderson's lightly raced gelding looks the big danger to the selection following that defeat of Well Chief. Twist Magic seemed to be back to his best when successful at Sandown though and he will be tough to beat on that form.
Cornas (NZ) 11-10fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd from 3rd, led approaching 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on well, won at Exeter 2m 1f chs (2) sft in Dec beating Or Bleu (11-7) by 13l, 5 ran.
Kinkeel (IRE) 20-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, smooth headway to lead 3 out, ran on well flat, won at Southwell 2m hcp chs 0-90 (5) gs beating Troodos Jet (10-6) by 10l, 14 ran.
Lennon (IRE) 6-1 (11-2) Chased clear leader to 7th, remained in 3rd, ridden after 4 out, jumped left and lost 3rd 2 out, weakened, 4th of 11, 16l behind Andreas (11-2) at Sandown 2m chs G2 (1) gd in Apr '08.
Oh Crick (FR) 11-2 (10-5) Jumped left and mistake 1st, held up in rear, headway 8th, soon ridden, beaten 4 out, 5th of 9, 18l behind Planet Of Sound (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Petit Robin (FR) 5-2fav (11-4) Chased leaders, led 7th, briefly headed next, led after 4 out, stayed on inner and narrowly headed 3 out, stayed challenging, driven to regain lead, went left and not fluent last, driven and in command flat, won at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec beating Well Chief (11-6) by 4l, 8 ran.
Twist Magic (FR) 9-4 (11-7) Made all, jumped well, driven after 3 out, unchallenged, won at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) sft in Dec beating Forpadydeplasterer (11-7) by 15l, 5 ran.
Well Chief (GER) 6-1 (11-6) Held up in touch, headway to 2nd well before 3 out, led on outside 3 out, jumped left 2 out, soon driven, headed last, no impression on winner flat, kept on well for clear 2nd, 2nd of 8, 4l behind Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led until mistake and headed 7th, weakened into 5th when fell 8th, in a race won by Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
