Magic Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase In Prospect

Record 57 In First Grade One Ryanair Chase

Twist Magic heads a powerful four-strong entry for champion trainer Paul Nicholls in what promises to be an outstanding renewal of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday, March 12.

The six-year-old most recently beat last year's Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes in the paddypower.com Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and could be joined in the #310,000 event by stablemates Andreas, winner of last season's Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup, French import Master Minded, a facile handicap winner at Sandown on Saturday, and Hoo La Baloo.

My Way De Solzen and Fair Along, who were first and second in The Irish Independent Arkle Chase last season, as well as Kevin Bishop's stable star Ashley Brook are also entered.

A five-strong entry from Ireland includes the 2006 winner Newmill as well as Mansony, Nickname and Schindlers Hunt who filled the first three places in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 27.

A number of rapidly-improving chasers have been given entries including the Ferdy Murphy-trained Another Promise, winner of the Grade One Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase at Punchestown in April, Jack The Giant, who scored easily at Leicester on Tuesday, Boylesports.com Gold Cup winner Tamarinbleu and the Jonjo O'Neill-trained Don't Push It, who made a winning return over hurdles at Chepstow in October.

The fourth running of the Ryanair Chase and the first carrying Grade One status has attracted a biggest-ever 57-strong initial entry including an unprecedented 18 from Ireland.

Last season's Irish Independent Arkle Chase winner My Way De Solzen, who also has a Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase entry, is among those engaged as is King George VI Chase runner-up Our Vic while the Michael Hourigan-trained Mossbank chased home Denman in the Grade One Lexus Chase at Leopardstown on January 28.

Other Irish-trained entries include Michael O'Brien's pair In Compliance and Forget The Past, the Jessica Harrington-trained Knight Legend, a 20-length winner at Tramore on January 1, novice Sky's The Limit, the 2006 Coral Cup hero and winner of his last three starts for trainer Edward O'Grady, last season's John Smith's Grand National third Slim Pickings and Newmill.

Another Promise and his stablemates Aces Four and L'Antartique are also engaged as is Jack The Giant, Hobbs Hill, winner of all his four starts over fences, The Listener, a dual Grade One winner for Robert Alner, David Pipe's in-form pair Tamarinbleu and Vodka Bleu, as well as Faasel and Monet's Garden, trained by Nicky Richards.

Paul Nicholls - who has won two of the three Ryanair Chases to date - has five chances of adding to that record via 2006 Royal & SunAlliance Chase winner Star De Mohaison, Master Minded, New Little Bric, Sporazene and Turko.

Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse, commented: 'The Ryanair Chase has been a huge success since it was added to The Festival in 2005 and we are delighted to see such an outstanding entry for this year's race, when it will be run as a Grade One for the first time. The Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion is long-established as one of the most exciting events of the season and - with the last two winners set to be taken on by a whole host of up-and-coming performers - the 2008 race is every bit as eagerly-awaited as past renewals.'