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Twist Magic Back to his Best

Twist Magic bounced back to his very best to run out an impressive winner of the bet365.com Celebration Chase.

The Paul Nicholls inmate was sent off at 7-2 having failed to score since Punchestown 12 months ago but was always travelling strongly in the hands of Ruby Walsh.

The seven-year-old took up the running at the second of the Railway Fences and he only had to be pushed out to beat favourite Kalahari King by 10 lengths.

Nicholls said: "He loves this track and ground and today was the race for him.

"I've had to completely change his regime at home - he enjoys schooling so he has just been out leading the babies.

"He doesn't like Cheltenham so I'm not sure if he'll go back there again. I'm not sure what we'll do now - he might start off next season in the Haldon Gold Cup."

Walsh added: "As soon as I got on him today he was just in a great frame of mind. He wasn't worked up and after he jumped off he was travelling sweet enough all the way - he must have got out of the right side of bed!

"He bolted up here in a Tingle Creek and I thought he was going to win an Arkle before he fell at the second last.

"He's won a couple of Grade Ones for me now and is a good horse."

Kalahari King's trainer Ferdy Murphy added: "It was probably just one race too many but we have to get the experience into him as he'll be competing with these horses next year.

"I'd say he's never been down to the first fence so fast in his life and hopefully he can put that experience in the locker to use next season.

"The Tingle Creek and the Peterborough Chase are his two starting points for next season. I think he'll get two and a half miles and Huntingdon is a flat track where you are near enough always guaranteed good ground, so the Peterborough has to be a consideration.

"He could move around trips and I think he'll stay three miles so the King George would be a possibility later on as well."