20 go forward for Victor Chandler Chase A total of 20 horses go forward at yesterday´s, January 11, confirmation stage for the £110,000 Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday, January 29.Click Here for RunnersThe current market leader, Great Travel, an impressive winner at Kempton and Newbury this season, and 3/1 with VCBet, goes forward for the extended two mile contest while his Paul Nicholls also has Thisthatandtother, already runner-up twice at Cheltenham this season in the Paddy Power and bonusprint.com Gold Cups, Cenkos, Armaturk and Kadarann to choose from.Following the defection of Azertyuiop, Martin Pipe´s Well Chief, the 2004 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy winner, now heads the weights. The six-year-old confirmed he is up there with the best by finishing an excellent third behind Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown before falling in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on January 3.The Nicholashayne handler also has Seebald, Upgrade, the progressive novice Contraband and Golden Alpha still engaged.Nicky Henderson won the Victor Chandler in 2004 with Isio as well as in 1996 with Big Matt and his one remaining entry is Non So, a very decent handicap hurdler a couple of seasons ago and twice a winner over fences last season. He has fallen on his two starts over fences this season at Windsor and Cheltenham, but was travelling well on both occasions.Philip Hobbs still has Flagship Uberalles, who has a great record at Cheltenham over the years, winning three times, including the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy in 1999 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2002, and Kalca Mome engaged while Venetia Williams, successful in 2000 with Nordance Prince, still has Bleu Superbe and Kelrev engaged.Last season´s Royal & SunAlliance Novices´ Hurdle winner Fundamentalist is among the acceptors as is Tim Easterby´s Turgeonev, winner of this race in 2002, the progressive Oneway, successful on his last four starts including a smooth victory at Sandown last Saturday, Irish challenger Ground Ball, triumphant on his latest two starts over hurdles in Ireland, and Transit.The Victor Chandler Chase is being run at Cheltenham for the next two years while Ascot is redeveloped.
