tracked leaders, jumped slowly 3rd and 6th, under pressure when mistake 8th, weakened 4 out
tracked winner, effort before 3 out, never able to challenge
held up in 4th, mistake 4th, slow 7th, weakened 4 out
made all, jumped well, driven after 3 out, unchallenged
held up in rear, not fluent throughout, effort before 3rd last, weakened next
Forpadydeplasterer was a narrow winner of the Arkle last season, handles plenty of cut in the ground and has to be considered in the Tingle Creek but Thomas Cooper's gelding may have to settle for minor honours behind TWIST MAGIC, who gets the vote ahead of Big Zeb. Colm Murphy's eight-year-old was going well in a couple of valuable contests, including the Queen Mother, before falling when with every chance and has every chance coming here on the back of a good win on his reappearance in a Grade 2 contest at Navan last month. He makes more appeal than the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Mahogany Blaze, who is probably flattered by his proximity to Well Chief in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham last month but will appreciate the testing conditions. David Pipe's gelding won that race in good fashion on ground probably softer than ideal but he is better on a faster surface and a better bet looks to be Twist Magic. Only two lengths down but still going well before two out when behind stable companion Master Minded in this event 12 months ago, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding should come on for his run at Exeter last month and he looks worth backing to win his second Tingle Creek having landed the event two years ago on soft ground.
Big Zeb (IRE) 11-10fav (11-12) Held up in rear early, headway to 3rd approaching 4th, 2nd before 5 out, challenged 3 out, eased to lead run-in, not extended, won at Navan 2m chs G2 hvy in Nov beating Made In Taipan (11-7) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Forpadydeplasterer (IRE) 6-4fav (11-12) Soon chased leaders in 3rd, closed into 2nd 4 out, slight mistake next and slight peck 2 out, not match winner under pressure run-in and kept on same pace, 2nd of 4, 6l behind Herecomesthetruth (11-12) at Down Royal 2m 4f chs G2 sft in Nov.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 12-1 (11-0) Held up, not fluent 7th, closed approaching 3 out, slightly outpaced after 2 out, stayed on to go 2nd after last, kept on flat, not trouble winner, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Well Chief (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) sft in Nov.
Twist Magic (FR) 16-1 (11-10) Held up in rear, headway when not fluent 7th, kept on same pace from 3 out, never able to challenge, 3rd of 9, 7l behind Planet Of Sound (10-9) at Exeter 2m 1f hcp chs Grade 2 (1) gs in Nov.
Well Chief (GER) 11-4 (11-0) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 3rd, hit 5th, challenged 3 out, led and pecked slightly 2 out, asserted after last, ran on, won at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) sft in Nov beating Mahogany Blaze (11-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
