Paul Nicholls’ remains hot favourite to take both the Queen Mother, and Gold Cup after Twist Magic was a confirmed entrant in the Champion Chase today.

Twist Magic heads Blue Square’s betting as the 7/4 favourite, and heads a team of four entries from the Ditcheat yard. Paul Nicholls, currently 1/3 to train the Gold Cup winner,  and 9/4 to repeat the 1999 feat of training both the Gold Cup and Queen Mother winners.

A 25-strong field was entered for the Grade One chase, amongst them, last year’s winner Voy Por Ustedes, and the 2006 victor Newmill.

In the recently upgraded Ryanair chase, the 2m5f contest has attracted a bumper entry of 57, the largest in the history of the race so far.

Mossbank heads the betting as 6/1 favourite after his fine run behind Denman and The Listener in the Lexus chase last time out.

This year’s renewal also sees the race attracting a number of novice entries with Charlie Egerton’s Hobbs Hill    high up in the betting at 10/1, and proven Cheltenham specialist Moon Over Miami rating a 25/1 chance.

Kate Miller, PR for Blue Square, said: ‘’The introduction of the Ryanair has again proven it’s worth this year with the 2m5f event attracting more entries than the Queen Mother.  Often seen as a ‘softer’ option than the Queen Mother, it may not prove to be the case this year, with a large field looking likely, and everything to play for now the event is a Grade One.

This is one event where Paul Nicholls doesn’t have the ante-post favourite, but having won this event twice since it’s inception, and with the gamble landed with Taranis last year, you can never rule him out!’’

Nicholls specials
1/3        Gold Cup
6/4        Queen Mother
9/2        Ryanair
16/1      to win all 3
9/4        Gold Cup & Queen Mum
6/1        Gold Cup & Ryanair
12/1      Queen Mum & Ryanair

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