Chief back on track

Well Chief makes his eagerly-awaited reappearance in a cracking renewal of the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The David Johnson-owned eight-year-old has been out of action for 658 days but was last seen defeating the top-class Azertyuiop in the Celebration Chase at Sandown.

He is not being reintroduced at a low level at the Berkshire venue, however, as Voy Por Ustedes, Foreman and Ashley Brook will all be in opposition.

The first-named finds himself heading the ante-post market for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase after landing the odds in a Kempton Grade Two event over Christmas.

Foreman was third on that occasion but finished in front of Alan King’s charge at the Aintree Festival last year.

Like Well Chief, Ashley Brook had also been plagued with niggling problems but ran out a very taking winner of a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham on his reappearance last month.

Also in the eight-strong field is Paul Nicholls’ resurgent Sporazene, who will be joined by stablemate Armaturk in the Grade Two test.

Likely outsiders Jupon Vert and Venn Ottery will also take up the challenge.