Chief Sticks At Two Miles Leading owner David Johnson will resist the temptation to step his crack two-miler Well Chief up in trip this season.The Martin Pipe-trained gelding has been involved in some exciting clashes with Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop over the last couple of years and will once again be contesting the big prizes over the minimum trip.'I keep reading he would stay further and that we ought to be looking at the King George or at least two and a half miles,' Johnson said.'We might next season but this time we will be staying at two miles and going for all the big Order Of Merit races with him.'We have also got Contraband for the same sort of races but I will be doing my best to keep them apart.He might start off in the Haldon Gold Cup, while Well Chief is more likely to go straight for the William Hill Tingle Creek.' Johnson said he had about 60 horses with champion trainer Martin Pipe ready to be unleashed, with the stars expected to come in the novice chase division where the likes of Celtic Son, Medison, Basilea Star are set to top the billing.Johnson is particularly sweet on another novice chase prospect Over The Creek, while Classified, a top-class staying novice hurdler, is ready to return having had 18 months rest for a serious leg injury.(C) PA Sport
