Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas struck Saturday gold once again as Twist Magic upset the odds in the Tingle Creek Chase.
Deputy strikes again for champion
Paul Nicholls and Sam Thomas struck Saturday gold once again as Twist Magic upset the odds in the Tingle Creek Chase.
After winning the Betfair Chase and the Hennessey Gold Cup on successive weekends, the pair combined once again to land the spoils in Sandown's big race.
The fiver-year-old Twist Magic was sent off at 5/1 and ran out an impressive winner under Thomas, NIcholls' second jockey who is deputising for the injured Ruby Walsh.
Champion Chase winner Voy Por Ustedes attempted to give chase but had no answer to the youngster's speed in the final quarter of a mile and was three lengths adrift at the line.
Monet's Garden stayed on for third ahead of Hoo La Baloo.
Overwhelmed
Thomas told
Channel 4 Racing: "It's unbelievable. This last month has been a whirlwind - I'm overwhelmed by the whole thing. He travelled so well and jumped awesome.
"He's so much scope and had probably taken me there sooner than I wanted.
"He's a proper horse and the ground was not an inconvenience to him at all.
"He's done it nicely."
Mature
Nicholls said: "Obviously, I was really concerned about the ground because as a young horse, he didn't like it.
"He is obviously older and more mature now and the horse are flying, which helps.
"If anything I thought he was in front too soon and I was worried that he was going to idle a bit.
"But he jumped so well and travelled so well that he just took Sam there - it was a really good performance.
"It wasn't an ideal place to be in front on him and a better-run race will suit him even better.
"We might just give him one run in the Game Spirit before the Champion Chase."
