Twist Magic falters at Victor Chandler Chase

Twist Magic floundered in the testing ground and suffered a shock reverse at the hands of front-running Tamarinbleu in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

All through the afternoon emphasis was on stamina, but when the 4-5 favourite ranged up behind the eventual 12-1 winner four fences out, victory looked a formality.

It quickly transpired Ruby Walsh was running on empty aboard the Tingle Creek winner, however, and as they turned for home last month's Boylesports.com Gold Cup hero Tamarinbleu was holding the upper hand.

As a previous three-mile winner there was no chance of him stopping in front under Tom Scudamore and the David Pipe-trained eight-year-old careered away for a 12-length success.

Paul Nicholls had to settle for second with the odds-on favourite after his six-year-old clambered through the second-last in weary fashion, with Irish raider Mansony 11 lengths further adrift in third.

Although he thrashed last year's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes in the Tingle Creek on his penultimate start, totesport eased Twist Magic to 2-1 at the head of the market for the Cheltenham two-miler.

William Hill and Ladbrokes both go 9-4, with the latter also trimming Voy Por Ustedes to 9-4 joint-favouritism.

But Nicholls was unperturbed by Twist Magic's defeat and commented: "I'll just tell you what Ruby said - 'he'll win the Champion Chase if the ground is decent.'

"I said to his owners that if he was ever going to get beat then today would be the day on this ground, especially after watching the first two races.

"Because he got away with soft ground at Sandown I thought he would get away with it today, but knowing what I know now he definitely won't run on that ground again.

"I didn't think about pulling him out as he won at Sandown and the only other option was Newbury in two weeks, but the ground will probably be as bad as here.

"It is easy to pull out and in hindsight I probably wish I had, but horses are there to run and we have had this in mind for a long time.

"He won't run before Cheltenham and Ruby said to go there and then look at the Celebration Chase at Sandown or take him to Punchestown."

Nicholls was used to playing second fiddle to Pipe's father Martin for a long time and the latter's son is now proving an equally big stumbling block to the champion trainer on occasion.

Pipe said: "I went through the race with Tom and he didn't have to make it, but he got a good start and everything else has fallen into place.

"It looked as if Twist Magic was going to pick us off, but we kept galloping and it was a great performance by horse and jockey.

"I said to the owner the other day that I have entered him in the Queen Mother, the Ryanair and Gold Cup.

"We are in all three races and we'll have some champagne and watch the video and discuss it, but the Gold Cup would be the least likely of the three."

VC Bet make Tamarinbleu an 8-1 chance for the Seasons Holidays-sponsored Champion Chase, while Paddy Power are the same price for the Ryanair.

His victory means he heads the Order Of Merit table on 55 points, three clear of nearest rival Kauto Star.