Pady in Victor Chandler Twist Magic will bid to go one better than he managed in 2008 in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on January 23. Just like two years ago, Paul Nicholls' chaser will head to Berkshire on the back of a stylish victory in the Tingle Creek at Sandown but his conqueror that day, Tamarinbleu, is not among the entries. Instead, stablemate Well Chief, well behind Twist Magic in the Tingle Creek, is likely to be the main challenger from David Pipe's Pond House yard. In the absence of last year's winner Master Minded, Nicholls has also entered Clive Smith's Free World. Nicky Henderson's Petit Robin, who beat Well Chief over Christmas, is likely to put up a bold show after his impressive reappearance. He was second to Master Minded 12 months ago. Howard Johnson has two possibles with Lennon, absent since April 2008, and Santa's Son. Nick Williams has entered Cornas, while Alan King has given his Grand Annual winner Oh Crick the option. The sole Irish entrant is Tom Cooper's Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer, second in the Tingle Creek on his last start. Fix The Rib, Kinkeel, Lord Henry and Oiseau de Nuit complete the list of 13 possibles. The sponsors make Twist Magic their even-money favourite to continue Nicholls' grip on the major prizes this season. "With the exception of the sidelined Master Minded, our flagship race has attracted all the top two-mile chasers and Twist Magic deserves to a short-priced favourite on the back of his emphatic 15-length success in the Tingle Creek Chase," said Victor Chandler spokesman Neal Wilkins. "However he was the 8-11 market leader for the 2008 running and was firmly put in his place when beaten 12 lengths by Tamarinbleu, albeit on extremely testing ground." Victor Chandler Chase Sponsors bet: Evens Twist Magic, 3-1 Petit Robin, 5-1 Forpadydeplasterer, Well Chief, 20-1 Cornas, Free World, 25-1 Fix The Rib, Oh Crick, 33-1 Lord Henry, Santa's Son, 66-1 Lennon, 100-1 Oiseau De Nuit, 500-1 Kinkeel.
