Mahogany May Go Out In Blaze Of Glory Mahogany Blaze has been a fixture at all the main spring jumps meetings and following his deserved success at Cheltenham last night there could still be one final appearance at Sandown next week. Nigel Twiston-Davies´ gelding fell when in contention behind Tidal Bay at Aintree last time, having previously taken a distant fifth to the same horse in the Arkle. There was no Tidal Bay in the Champagne Lanson Novices´ Chase but Paddy Brennan and the 6-4 favourite were made to work hard by Oslot (15-8) and Ruby Walsh before nailing them in the final strides. "He gets some criticism for his jumping but he was superb there and I think he might even have won at Aintree," said the trainer. "I don´t see why he shouldn´t step up to the top level next season." Twiston-Davies was reminded about the Celebration Chase at Sandown next weekend. "We´re not out of it," he reported after a hasty consultation with his owners. Walsh and Paul Nicholls had their own joy, firstly with Elusive Dream, a winner at Aintree earlier this month. Although he had not fared too well in his previous visit to this track last November, the easy-to-back 10-11 favourite put in a powerful performance from the front to pull away by 10 lengths in the Centaur Conference And Exhibition Centre Novices´ Hurdle. "When you look at his form from Aintree it was something else and as an ex-Flat horse, he loved this faster ground," said Walsh. An entry at Punchestown is unlikely to be taken up, with Nicholls´ assistant Dan Skelton adding: "We kept him a fresh horse and while some of the other horses have dropped off, he looked a million dollars. "I expect he´ll have a holiday now and go for the big two-and-a-half-mile races next season." Walsh also pinched the Racing UK Hurdle from Brennan and Ballyfitz aboard Mobaasher (5-2 favourite). Team Nicholls believe Mobaasher is just finding his feet for the stable after his transfer from Charlie Mann. Tjade Collier was left over the moon as he steered Ela Re (9-1) to an all-the-way success in the Nicholson Holman Conditional Jockeys´ Handicap Chase for his first winner at the track. Sam Jones led his rivals a merry dance aboard the cheekpieced mare Gaelic Gift (22-1) in the V-IT Handicap Chase. Trainer Brendan Powell reckons the longer trip was her making and may give the six-year-old a break before looking at the Summer National at Uttoxeter. Mann struck himself with Katies Tuitor (10-1) who came through the gloom best in the Gloucestershire Trainers´ Championship Handicap Hurdle. (C) PA Sport
