Twist Magic to vanish from Irish showdown

13 April 2012

Twist Magic is set to duck a trip to Ireland over Christmas in favour of a tilt at the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot in January.

The seven-year-old was an impressive winner of the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase over two miles at Sandown earlier this month and is currently 7-1 second favourite behind stablemate Master Minded for the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Paddy Power.

Trainer Paul Nicholls was preparing to head to Leopardstown for a crack at the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase on Monday week but connections have had a change of heart.

Twist Magic's part-owner Barry Fulton said: "We've decided not to go to Leopardstown and instead go for the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot. We've let him down a little bit and the Paddy Power race is a bit quick after the Tingle Creek. The race at Ascot on 23 January gives us an extra three weeks."

Trainer Colm Murphy is leaving it as late as possible before deciding whether Sandown flop Big Zeb will try and redeem his tarnished reputation at Leopardstown.

Big Zeb won the valuable 2m1f race last year after an eight-month lay-off. He was not extended to make a winning seasonal debut in the Fortria Chase at Navan in November but was then a disappointing fourth of five to Twist Magic after being sent off favourite for the Tingle Creek.

After that reversal, Murphy said he may have run him too quickly after Navan. "It is not 100 per cent whether he will run in the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase and we'll make a decision in the middle of next week - our only worry is that it may be coming a bit quick," said Murphy.

"Touch wood he seems good and has come out of Sandown well. We did a few tests after the race but nothing has come to light.

"Navan may have been a harder race than we thought and as he is best fresh. We probably went to war again a little bit too soon. I don't want to make that mistake again."

Queen Mother Champion Chase (Paddy Power odds): 6-4 Master Minded, 7 Twist Magic, 8 Big Zeb, Forpadydeplasterer, 10 Kalahari King, 12 Barker, 16 Well Chief, 25 Petit Robin, 33 Planet Of Sound.

Donald McCain is hopeful that Inventor can follow up his shock defeat of Manyriverstocross when he returns to Ascot tomorrow.

Inventor earned a 25-1 quote for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham after winning there last month on his hurdling debut. McCain said: "That was a surprise and we're hoping to find out a bit more about him."

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