Ollie Magern storms to Wetherby repeat
Ollie Magern continued trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies' unstoppable run of form by gamely making all to capture the bet365 Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby for a second time.
Two years on from blazing a trail in taking the West Yorkshire feature, the pint-size nine-year-old put his rivals to the sword under Paddy Brennan with a domineering display.
Although winless since his last victory in the Grade Two event, the shrewd Yorkshire punters listened to Twiston-Davies' positive vibes in the build-up and he jumped off at a substantially well-backed 11-4.
Out in the country on the second occasion, Brennan really started to stoke his mount up and his partner willingly began to stretch his lead.
Jumping three out and racing towards the packed stands - which were bathed in sunshine - Tony McCoy started to close in on the 15-8 favourite State Of Play.
But even the urgings of the champion jockey failed to have the desired effect and State Of Play went down to Ollie Magern by a length and three-quarters.
Twiston-Davies said: "He has never been better and I pray he is not aching or whatever tomorrow.
"He has never had a tendon problem in his life but has had bone pain and fractures.
"Two years ago before Cheltenham, when I think he would have won the SunAlliance Novice Chase, he fractured a bone behind and that was pinned.
"After his good run in the Haydock race (Betfair Chase) last year that started slipping and moving about, but hopefully that is behind him.
"He is a little superstar and I wish there were more like him. He is tiny but hurls himself over those fences and there is no doubt he will have jumped better than any other horse today.
"His poor father, Alderbrook, died this week. He's just the same as he was, so unsound but so gutsy.
"If we can keep him right he can do anything, but it's so difficult to keep him right.
"If we can keep him sound we will have to have a look at the big race at Haydock. He ran a superb race there last year.
"He was actually upsides Kauto Star at the last but faded on the run-in. There's the King George as well and all of those big races."
Brennan added: "He loves going from the front and I wouldn't want to be following him.
"The other horse came and he was always going to find a bit more."
King George VI Chase sponsors Stan James introduced Ollie Magern into the betting for the race - in which he finished seventh last year - at 16-1.
State Of Play's trainer Evan Williams said: "It was a big effort giving the winner 6lb. I thought we had him bang-on for today.
"AP (McCoy) said he thought he was going to get to the winner but we have been beaten by a better horse on the day.
"It was a massive run and I am delighted with him, but this was the plan.
"We pulled it off (first time out) in the Hennessy last year, but I can't get him any fitter than that. All credit goes to Nigel and his horse.
"Haydock and the Betfair Chase might come a bit quick for him, so we might go to Ireland at Christmas."
Monkerhostin took third ahead of Madison Du Berlais and Kingscliff, with only five of the seven runners completing.
Monkerhostin's rider Tom O'Brien said: "I am pleased he ran well but he is not what he was."
Turko was pulled up in front of the stands on the first circuit but was later reported to be sound, while Aces Four's rider Graham Lee said his mount was "very tired" after pulling him up before the last fence.
