Magern Earns Stable Confidence

Nigel Twiston-Davies is anticipating further improvement from Ollie Magern in Saturday´s Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Following an absence due to injury since mid-February, the seven-year-old looked at least back to his best on his seasonal reappearance when decisively landing Wetherby´s Charlie Hall Chase.

His trainer reports everything to have gone smoothly since that run late last month and believes conditions will be favourable for a big performance in the Grade One Chase, where Ollie Magern is due to tackle Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Kicking King.

'We´re very much looking forward to finding out how good Ollie Magern is,' Twiston-Davies told the Racing Post.

'We are ready for Saturday and he has been working very well of late.

He has come on for the run at Wetherby and he´ll be better than last time.

'Whether we make the running again will be up to the little horse and Carl Llewellyn, who will ride him as he sees fit.

'He goes on any ground - it´s merely a coincidence that he´s done a lot of winning on good ground or faster.

Soft ground wouldn´t be a problem, as he showed at Wetherby.

'He has not run at Haydock before, but the track should definitely suit him, as it´s similar to Wetherby.'

Keen Leader was an early faller in the Charlie Hall, but is also on course for Saturday and has an enviable record at the Warrington track.

Jonjo O´Neill´s talented but fragile chaser has won on two of his three visits to Haydock, including an impressive victory in the 2003 Tommy Whittle Chase.

Owner Adair Catherwood said: 'Keen Leader is in very good form.

I just hope he picks his feet up this time! 'He likes Haydock - that´s a big part of why we are going for this race - and we hope he can build on his two wins there.

'At around 10-1, I´d say he´d be a nice each-way bet.

He likes soft ground but goes on most surfaces, except firm.'

(c) PA Sport