Johnson Hoping For A Flyer

Champion owner David Johnson is hoping Commercial Flyer can give his Cheltenham team a much-needed boost with victory in tomorrow's Royal & SunAlliance Chase.

Johnson and trainer Martin Pipe carried all before them last season, enjoying a number of Festival successes as well as finishing second in this race with Comply Or Die.

The Pond House squad have been under a bit of a cloud this campaign but Johnson is sure Commercial Flyer, winner of his only start over fences, is one to follow.

'We were thrilled with the way he jumped at Taunton and because he came back relatively late he is a fresh horse with, hopefully, further improvement,' he said.

Willie Mullins will be bidding for a third win in the race when he sends out Our Ben for the extended three-mile race.

The County Carlow handler sent out Florida Pearl in 1998 and Rule Supreme in 2004 and he is hoping Our Ben, a fast-finishing third in a Leopardstown Grade One, can carry on the trend.

He told www.wpmullins.com: 'Our Ben flew home in the SunAlliance Novices' Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs last year and will like the track and ground.

'He needs three miles yet has the speed for two.

'Favourites have a bad record in this race but it has been lucky for us with both Florida Pearl and Rule Supreme winning.'

Totesport make Commercial Flyer their 7-2 favourite while Our Ben is a 4-1 shot.

The Charles Egerton-trained Darkness is next best on 6-1 after a season that has seen him win four of his five starts.

Darkness has only been beaten by Monet's Garden over the bigger obstacles ? form that was well franked when that horse finished second in the Arkle Trophy.

The seven-year-old won a Sandown Grade One on his last start but he had been off the track since that victory in December.

Egerton said: 'We're very happy with the way everything has gone. Paddy (Brennan) came down and schooled him yesterday and he jumped well for him and the ground should be fine for everyone.'

Although Andrew Thornton may miss out on his intended ride aboard The Listener, he believes Robert Alner's charge has a cracking chance.

Thornton had to go for X-rays on his arm after a crashing fall in the William Hill Trophy but he will be keen to ride the seven-year-old if possible.

The flashy grey had won his three previous races, including a Grade Two around Prestbury Park, and he delighted Thornton in a post-race workout at Exeter last week.

'Obviously if he had gone into the race having won four out of four, he might well have been favourite so in that sense the pressure has lowered,' said the rider.

'His confidence wasn't affected and he schooled really well round Exeter for me the other day.

'I think he's got a very good each-way chance.'

totesport bet: 7-2 Commercial Flyer, 4-1 Our Ben, 6-1 Darkness, 8-1 The Listener, 10-1 Bewleys Berry, Zabenz, 11-1 Bold Bishop, 12-1 Star De Mohaison, 14-1 Back in Front, The Railwayman, 33-1 Idle Talk, Lough Derg, 50-1 Ardaghey, 66-1 Lord Killeshanra, 150-1 Chopneyev.

? PA Sport