The eight-year-old is unbeaten over fences since making his debut in May, and held on in determined fashion at Cheltenham as Somersby closed him down close home. His handler has taken the bold move of stepping him up to face the best two-milers in the business, rather than keep him to novice company. Among the high-class opposition is Tom Cooper’s Forpadydeplasterer, second in the Queen Mother Champion Chase and again at Aintree over two and a half miles.

He also won last year’s Arkle, his only victory in his last nine starts which have yielded eight second-place finishes. Paul Nicholls runs Twist Magic, winner of the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chase this season and also successful in this contest in 2008. The other British raiders are Ferdy Murphy’s Kalahari King, an early casualty at Aintree having finished third in the Queen Mother, and the Nick Williams-trained Cornas.

Willie Mullins runs three – Barker, Scotsirish and Golden Silver – while James Lambe is responsible for 2008 runner-up Natal, a former Nicholls inmate. Gordon Elliott lets Salford City take his chance, with Colm Murphy relying upon Don’t Be Bitin in the absence of Big Zeb.

Punchestown Champion Chase 11-4 Kalahari King, Twist Magic, 100-30 Sizing Europe, 9-2 Forpadydeplasterer, 10 Golden Silver, 16 Barker, 25 Salford City, Scotsirish, 40 Cornas, Don’t Be Bitin, Natal

Nicky Henderson’s General Miller will look to follow up his Aintree victory in Tuesday’s Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. A first-flight casualty in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, won by Menorah, he left connections wondering what might have been when beating Philip Hobbs’ charge at Aintree.

Another British raider is Charlie McBride’s Rollwiththepunches, second to another smart Hobbs novice, Captain Chris, on his last start at Kempton. Willie Mullins runs Flat Out, fifth in the Supreme, and Blackstairmountain, who disappointed at Cheltenham but ran much better when only worn down close home by Luska Lad at Fairyhouse.

Henry de Bromhead lets the exciting Loosen My Load take his chance, while Sweeps Hill, a classy bumper performer last term, has his first run of the calendar year. Tom Mullins relies upon Some Slam, winner of a Naas maiden hurdle on his last start. The Gordon Elliott-trained Grey Soldier, a disappointment in the Dovecote at Kempton, Eddie Harty’s Baron De’l and Tilabay complete the line-up.

Evening Herald Champion Novice Hurdle 11-8 General Miller, 5 Blackstairmountain, Flat Out, Sweeps Hill, 10 Loosen My Load, 12 Some Slam, 16 Grey Soldier, 25 Rollwiththepunches, 33 Tilabay, 100 Baron De’l

Top-class novice Dunguib is set to take his chance in the Rabobank Champion Hurdle at Punchestown on Friday. Trainer Philip Fenton has decided to take on the likes of Hurricane Fly, Solwhit and Punjabi rather than go for the Evening Herald Champion Novices’ Hurdle on Tuesday.

“We’re going to let him take his chance in Friday’s race rather than Tuesday’s novice hurdle,” said the County Tipperary handler.

“I hear they have done a marvellous job with the watering up there and we’ve more chance of getting rain between now and Friday than between now and Tuesday.”

Last season’s leading bumper horse created a big impression when winning his first four starts over jumps before finishing third to Menorah in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last month.

Sizing Europe Faces Kalahari King in Champion Chase is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old headed to the Festival in the form of his life following victories in the Tingle Creek and Victor Chandler Chase, but was pulled up after making a costly error four fences from home.

Part-owner Barry Fulton is delighted to report his charge is none the worse and the Celebration Chase, which he won 12 months ago, is now on Twist Magic’s radar.

“He’s come out of it absolutely fine, that mistake at the fourth-last just knocked the stuffing out of him,” said Fulton.

“I think the jockey was fairly easy on him afterwards so he should be fresh enough to go again and we’ll probably head back to Sandown for the Celebration Chase.

“He’s won at Punchestown before as well so we’ll have a look at that, but I guess the Irish horses will stay over there and go for their own race, so we might be better going to Sandown as we know he loves the place.

“It was just one of those things at Cheltenham as if you make a mistake in a two-mile race round there, you don’t win.

“The main thing is he’s come back in one piece and we’ll now look for the next opportunity.

“It’s been a fantastic season as he’s already won two Grade Ones so I can’t really complain, but Cheltenham is the place you want to win.

“Having already beaten the first and second this season you’d have thought we’d have finished a bit closer so it’s disappointing, but we live to fight another day.”

There will be those who argue that Twist Magic’s latest disappointing effort supports the theory that he does not handle Cheltenham, but Fulton is refusing to rule out a return in 12 months’ time.

“I’m always keen to go to Cheltenham,” the owner added.

“I’m not sure Paul is quite as keen as the owners but it’s a long way off and there is not a lot else for him in March, so we’ll just have to see.

“We’ll have to give some consideration to two-and-a-half-mile races at some stage but I think that route is arguably even more competitive than the two-mile route at the moment.”

Twist Magic Heading To Sandown is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Saturday Live Trading with Lee Keys

(01/23/2010)

  

Close

11:07

4:29	Lee Keys:  I shall be back on Monday with trading live Saturday January 23, 2010 4:29 Lee Keys

4:15	Lee Keys:  4..20 I will be laying Nicky Henderson’s LUSH LIFE for a maximum stake the way they have ran today. Saturday January 23, 2010 4:15 Lee Keys

3:53	Lee Keys:  Back for the 4.20 Saturday January 23, 2010 3:53 Lee Keys

3:52	Lee Keys:  nice trade there on KILCRE CASTLE Saturday January 23, 2010 3:52 Lee Keys

3:45	Lee Keys:  The gamble PIRAYA is normally one of the first ff the bridle so look to trade that either backing it when it commes off the bridle or laying it if shorter mid race Saturday January 23, 2010 3:45 Lee Keys

3:44

Lee Keys:  3.45 Ascot absolute war of attrition here and KILCREA CASTLE would be my choice to win this, we may get a bigger price in running but judge it for yourself. You are going to need to stay three miles to win this and with five confirmed front runners it could go to something tracking the pace rather than helping make it. The selection had some excellent form in Ireland and is well handicapped on the pick of them Saturday January 23, 2010 3:44 Lee Keys

3:36	Lee Keys:  great trade there on Beauchene Saturday January 23, 2010 3:36 Lee Keys

3:27	Lee Keys:  This horse has the potential to go very short here. Saturday January 23, 2010 3:27 Lee Keys

3:25	Lee Keys:  3.30 Haydock – Prince De Beauchene easy back to lay here.. Will tavel powerfully but make sur eyou lay out even if it looks certain to win as Im worried about stamina Saturday January 23, 2010 3:25 Lee Keys

3:23	Lee Keys:  A nice bet there at 2.0 with a horse that will always go bigger in play Saturday January 23, 2010 3:23 Lee Keys

3:20	Lee Keys:  Everything thats ran out of Nicky Hendersons today has ran below form. Saturday January 23, 2010 3:20 Lee Keys

3:19	Lee Keys:  3.20 put in a back bet for Rock a Doodle Do at Evens Saturday January 23, 2010 3:19 Lee Keys

3:10	Lee Keys:  3.10 Ascot if anyones interested big big word for STRAVINSKY DANCE from a very good judge in the yard Saturday January 23, 2010 3:10 Lee Keys

2:50	Lee Keys:  back for 3.30 at Haydock really licking my wounds today Saturday January 23, 2010 2:50 Lee Keys

2:47	Lee Keys:  The second horse hit every fence, had PETIT ROOBIN jumped better would have beaten it Saturday January 23, 2010 2:47 Lee Keys

2:46	Lee Keys:  for me that was a substandard performance from TWIsT MAGIC Saturday January 23, 2010 2:46 Lee Keys

2:43	Lee Keys:  every time TWIST MAGIC has been moody at the start he hsant show his form so im a layer Saturday January 23, 2010 2:43 Lee Keys

2:38	Lee Keys:  With no FIX THE RIB I am luke warm about the lay on TWIST MAGIC and yoou may want to halve your interest. There will be less pace on now which was one of the reasons why I felt we could get TWIST MAGIC beat Saturday January 23, 2010 2:38 Lee Keys

2:23	Lee Keys:  back for 2.40 at Ascot Saturday January 23, 2010 2:23 Lee Keys

2:17	Lee Keys:  absolutely desperate there but the saver wins. Incidentally I had 2200/100 in running R WOODY feel very unlucky there Saturday January 23, 2010 2:17 Lee Keys

2:14	Lee Keys:  very confident here about R WOODY providing the predcited pace here materialises, R WOODY finds for pressure Saturday January 23, 2010 2:14 Lee Keys

2:12	Lee Keys:  Daily briefing bet here at Lingfield Saturday January 23, 2010 2:12 Lee Keys

2:12	Lee Keys:  she ran a good race and was a nice trade was Silver Kate Saturday January 23, 2010 2:12 Lee Keys

2:11	Lee Keys:  unlucky there Saturday January 23, 2010 2:11 Lee Keys

1:55	Lee Keys:  205 Ascot SILVER KATE Overpriced at around 15.0 she’s a nice mare and this is a big price. STRAWBERRY should be an easy trade as she travels well upp with the pace and there isnt a deal of early pace here. Saturday January 23, 2010 1:55 Lee Keys

1:53	Lee Keys:  ran well to say he didn’t jump but that seems to be the norm with him. Clearly very well handicapped if he gets his act together Saturday January 23, 2010 1:53 Lee Keys

1:47	Lee Keys:  SUPREME KEANO jumping poorly so left alone Saturday January 23, 2010 1:47 Lee Keys

1:43

Lee Keys:  1.45 SUPREME KEANO would win this comfortably if putting in a clean round of jumping. He jumps sticky though and this half brother to Keen Leader will need to get his act together around here. Make plenty of appeal and one to keep an eye on f jumping well Saturday January 23, 2010 1:43 Lee Keys

1:29	Lee Keys:  1.40 Lingfield Maoi Chinn Tire excellent back to lay, strong travelling type, hopefully ut of it by about mid race excellent potential to go down to at least 3.0. Tatawor has gone at the game for me, Bubbly Bellini is a shithouse. Saturday January 23, 2010 1:29 Lee Keys

1:19	Lee Keys:  1.30 Ascot Stable confidence behind the Alan King trained EBIAYN, which has come on plenty for debut. Saturday January 23, 2010 1:19 Lee Keys

1:08	Lee Keys:  Back for 1.30 at Ascot didn’t think they went fast enough for Rondeau there. Saturday January 23, 2010 1:08 Lee Keys

1:02	Lee Keys:  1.05 Lingfield – If they go a strong pace then Rondeau can take advantage, he needs further but will need a strong pace to run at. Will be a layer if they go a crawl. Saturday January 23, 2010 1:02 Lee Keys

1:00	Lee Keys:  a very poor start but a bizarre outcome Saturday January 23, 2010 1:00 Lee Keys

12:55

Lee Keys:  unreal Saturday January 23, 2010 12:55 Lee Keys

12:54

Lee Keys:  very good price at 2.4 now Saturday January 23, 2010 12:54 Lee Keys

12:54

Lee Keys:  the key here is not to be greedy and ask for too much Saturday January 23, 2010 12:54 Lee Keys

12:51

Lee Keys:  12.55 REINDEER DIPPIN, very easy short term trade, will get his own way more or less up front, back it now around 2.3 and lay back at 2.0 for an easy trade Saturday January 23, 2010 12:51 Lee Keys

11:16

Lee Keys:  Todays Live Trading Advice Schedule Ascot: 12:55 1:30 2:05 2:40 3:45 4:20 Haydock: 1:45 3:30 Lingfield: 1:05 1:40 2:15 3:20 Saturday January 23, 2010 11:16 Lee Keys

10:09

Racing Diary (Carl):  Lee will be online 15 minutes before the start of the first race, Saturday January 23, 2010 10:09 Racing Diary (Carl)

9:15	Racing Diary (Carl):  You will need a Betfair account to back and lay, get a £25 free bet, click here…. Saturday January 23, 2010 9:15 Racing Diary (Carl)

9:15	Racing Diary (Carl):  Lee Keys will be online for the start of racing on Saturday with Live and in-running trading advice! Saturday January 23, 2010 9:15 Racing Diary (Carl)

9:14	Saturday January 23, 2010 9:14

 

 

Trading Diary Busy Day

Stakes (1-3 pts)

Todays Live Trading Advice Schedule

• Ascot: 12:55 1:30 2:05 2:40 3:45 4:20
• Haydock: 1:45 3:30
• Lingfield: 1:05 1:40 2:15 3:20

Today’s Outright Bets Summary

• 2.15 Lingfield – 2pts win R WOODY 1pt win CLIFTON BRIDGE 2.40 Ascot – 2pts lay TWIST MAGIC
• 2.15 THIRD ‘SHAREN BLAQUIERE – CELEBRATE A LIFE’ HANDICAP (4) (AWT) 5f

Plenty of pace on here and that can play into the hands of R WOODY here, who found the lack of pace against him last time at Wolverhampton, when finding his stride just too late after the winner had nicked a couple of lengths from him over a furlong out. This horse is absolutely thriving at the moment and has been found a perfect opportunity to continue that progress with the predicted pace scenario going to bring the best out of him.

Of the others LUCKY MELLOR looks best at Southwell and looks weighted to the hilt and SAKILE will have plenty on her plate here in first time handicap company as she wont be left alone in the lead like last time. ATHWAAB looks a disappointing sort and ill struggle to turn around the form with R WOODY. This leaves the unexposed CLIFTON BRIDGE as the saver. He was a ready winner of his maiden at Wolverhampton last time and had the 70 rated TEXAS QUEEN over three lengths away in third (winner since). His mark of 79 doesn’t look overly generous but he could step forward from that and he is worth a saver.

Live Betting Advice

2.40 VICTOR CHANDLER CHASE (Clarence House) (Grade 1) (1) 2m 1f

Can anyone tell me why TWIST MaGIC is an 11/8 chance to win this contest? The horse is miles better at Sandown than anywhere else and is priced up on that impressive win alone. If you put the rest of his form into context then he should be about a 5/2 to 3/1 chance. We simply have to be against this horse around this price and at 2.44 he rates as a strong lay for me. I can see a drift at this price for people that want to trade this horse. This seventeen furlongs in testing ground with a likely decent pace doesn’t bring the best out in this horse. The railway fences at Sandown on the back straight enable TWIST MAGIC to get that breather in before the climb for home. He is a different horse around the ESher track than any other course. Paul Nicholls’ gelding was beaten at odds on in this race last year after winning The Tingle Creek at Sandown the time before and I can see a repeat scenario.
You will need a Betfair account to trade

Saturdays LIVE Betting Briefing, 23 January is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

By Carl Harris

The big race of the day is at Ascot and it is fantastic to have top class racing back on the agenda on a Saturday. Haydock also stages a quality card and as long as the weather plays its part we should have a great day of National Hunt racing.

This is what we were waiting for whilst sat at home watching DVD’s during the big freeze. Let’s see if we can make some money today. Here are my best bets for Saturday 23 January.

2:20 Haydock, Diamond Harry- Win. A very decent hurdler Diamond Harry will put his jumping to the test over fences. Timmy Murphy has been routed to Ascot for the ride on Well Chief so he will now be ridden by Barry Geraghty. He will not be a great price but should win and enter the Cheltenham Festival Picture.

Diamond Harry debuts over fences on Saturday

It will not be a walk-over for Diamond Harry. Knockara Beau is a decent sort who has jumping experience in his favour but Diamond Harry has bags of class and could be top class in my view.


2:40 Ascot (VC Chase), Twist Magic- Win. Though this is an eight runner contest it really only concerns the bottom three, Petit Robin, Well Chief and Twist Magic. Paul Nicholls won this last season with Master Minded but could do it again with able deputy Twist Magic. At Sandown last time out he made a nonsense of a grade one field in the Tingle Creek. With a rating of 173 he is the best horse in the race but if he is in the sort of form we saw at Sandown he will take some stopping. The danger is the Nicky Henderson trained and now Tony McCoy ridden Petit Robin who won the Dessert Orchid Chase at Kempton last time out. The winner will come from these two and it looks a very good reverse forecast but I think Twist magic has got better, is clearly right and can justify top rating under Ruby Walsh. McCoy v Walsh, Henderson v Nicholls, it doesn’t get much better than this. Twist Magic for me.

Here is what Paul Nicholls has to say ahead of the VC Chase on Saturday;

“Twist Magic is fine and I am very happy with him. He was beaten in the race two years ago, which is a slight concern. He looked a certainty and got beat, but he also ran a shocker in the Champion Chase that year. He seems in good form and I think he put in a personal best when he was third at Exeter (in the Haldon Gold Cup under top weight on his seasonal reappearance). He also won well the last day, but Ascot and Sandown are different tracks. You can freewheel around Sandown, but it is a stiff climb from Swinley Bottom to the line at Ascot. He appears in good form and looked a lot happier at Sandown. I hope he has turned a corner and he does seem happier in himself these days.”

2:55 Haydock, Punjabi, Win. I am not advocating backing Punjabi if you do not like short prices but this is important in the context of the Champion Hurdle. Of course he is the current Champion Hurdler and seemed to blow up last time out but did travel well. He will need to put in a better performance today and should win this easily if he is at full fitness. Anything but a win here would be a major shock.

Carl Harris’ Best bets for Saturday 23 January

• 2:20 Haydock, Diamond Harry- Win
• 2:40 Ascot (VC Chase), Twist Magic- Win
• 2:55 Haydock, Punjabi, Win

Saturdays Horseracing Tips, 23 January is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

TWIST MAGIC, who successfully deputised for stablemate Master Minded when winning last month’s Tingle Creek Chase, has been made favourite for the feature race at Ascot in 17 days time after headlining a solid entry for the Victor Chandler Chase. Sponsors bet Even money, a poor price, as William Hill go 11/8 about Paul Nicholls charge.

Paul Nicholls Champion Trainer

A total of 13 horses have been entered.

William Hill: Victor Chandler Chase: 11-8 Twist Magic, 5-2 Petit Robin, 11-2 Well Chief, 6-1 Forpadydeplasterer, 12-1 Free World, 16-1 Cornas, Fix The Rib, 20-1 Oh Crick, 33-1 Lord Henry, Santa’s Son, 66-1 Lennon, 100-1 Oiseau De Nuit, 500-1 Kinkeel (EW 1/4 1,2,3)



Victor Chandler: Evens Twist Magic, 3 Petit Robin, 5 Forpadydeplasterer, Well Chief, 20 Cornas, Free World, 25 Fix The Rib, Oh Crick, 33 Lord Henry, Santa’s Son, 66 Lennon, 100 Oiseau De Nuit, 500-1 Kinkeel.

Evens is a poor price from the sponsors, but may actually represent his SP on the day of the race. He looks the best bet by far here. I have taken some 11/8, thank you!

Twist Magic Looks a Decent price at 11/8 is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

Big Zeb is Tingle Creek Favourite

Big Zeb, an Irish raider is likely to go off favourite for the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase have run out an easy winner on his first start of the season at Navan. He was beind Master Minded at Punchestown in April when a bad mistake at the last stopped him in his tracks. That is top quality form and worth of favouritism.

The main challenge to Big Zeb will come from Well Chief, trained by David Pipe. Last time we saw Well Chief in the Tingle Creek was in 2004 when third behind Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in a truly classic encounter.

Paul Nicholls has won six of the last 10 runnings, including the last four, of the Tingle Creek. Of course he has no Master Minded this year. Twist Magic, third in the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance is the Champion Trainer’s hope in 2009 . Last season’s Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer steps back up to Grade One company after a satisfactory reappearance over two and a half miles in soft ground. Is he good enough to win the Tingle Creek?

Completing the field is Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Mahogany Blaze, second to Well Chief and in front of Master Minded in the Connaught Chase last time out.

So who is going to win?

Big Zeb is certainly the one that punters will want to be on. His form is there for all to see but is not likely to be much of a price. Twist Magic is actually the highest rated but has been a bit of a let down of late, in my view at least. At the prices Well Chief is the value bet. A great run last time showed he is back to his best and is in fact rated, officially, a pound better than Big Zeb.  Ground concerns rule out Forpadydeplasterer, in my view and the race shapes as a match between Big Zeb and Well Chief.

I take the value and go for Well Chief who looked back to his best last time out. Stan James have given us a charity bet which will be given out on SunTalk in aid of Help for Heroes. £100 to win on Well Chief. David Pipe said of his charge; “He has come back more times than Frank Sinatra. We’ve always hung in there with him as horses like Well Chief don’t come along very often in a lifetime,”

Tingle Creek Prediction: Well Chief to Win.

Prices:
13/8 Big zeb
11/4 Twist Magic
3/1 Well chief
6 Forpady
20 Mahogony

Charlie McCann’s Tingle Creek preview;

Stan James Specials;
Big Zeb 10/1 to win Tingle Creek & Champion Chase

William Hill Tingle Creek preview….

Get your £25 free bet from William Hill…

Tingle Creek Chase Preview, Saturday 5 December is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk

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Today’s Free Lay Betting Tip

3:00 Exeter-Twist Magic

Twist magic went off favourite in 2008 and was disappointing. May have too much weight here.
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Tuesdays Lay Betting Tips, 3 November is a post from: RacingDiary.co.uk Free Horseracing and Betting Tips from RacingDiary.co.uk