Ghizao impresses at Cheltenham Ghizao produced a very good performance to land the Grade Two Independent Newspaper Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. Paul Nicholls' charge has always been held in high regard and put a marker down for the season with a 10 length victory. There was a good battle for the minors with Captain Chris just getting the better of Loosen My Load on the climb to the line. Radium finished fourth but the well-backed Kilmurry who had beaten Ghizao by 11 lengths last month failed to run his race and was beaten at the top of the hill. "He was a very good jumper of hurdles. He jumped them like he wanted a fence," said Murphy. "The ground was a big factor today. He was very accurate and very neat. "The second-last might be a bit close to that bend and it draws you into it a bit, but he was fabulous." Nicholls added: "I had a nice bet on him at 8-1. I couldn't believe the way he drifted like he did. "He's a decent horse and just needed the run the last day here. I said beforehand he'd improved enormously. "He jumps really well. The last experience didn't do him any harm. Once he was beat Ruby (Walsh) looked after him. "He was struggling with his breathing, he had an op in the summer which was why we were late starting him and why he needed the run last time. "I've always believed in him and today he had to deliver and he has thankfully. "He jumps well and keeps galloping. Obviously the Arkle is where we will head now, but I hadn't thought further than today, maybe something like the Henry VIII at Sandown might be an option. "He worked brilliantly with Master Minded on Wednesday and I thought we might be getting somewhere with him and today he has proved it." The winner has been introduced at 10/1 for the Arkle Chase next March by Sky Bet.
