Countdown to Cheltenham - news digest

Scudamore makes Victor Chandler Chase into stamina test

The Boylesports Gold Cup winner Tamarinbleu (Epervier Bleu - Tamainia, by Lashkari) dropped back half a mile in the Grade One Victor Chandler Chase over 2m 1f a Ascot on Saturday, and caused a 12-1 upset over odds-on favourite Twist Magic after leading from the off and setting a stiff test of stamina under Tom Scudamore.

Twist Magic jumped well in the soft going and drew alongside the leader four from home. Scudamore got a huge effort from Tamarinbleu at that fence and drew clear again. Ruby Walsh on Twist Magic was soon struggling, unable to find anything off the bridle on the going - which his trainer Paul Nicholls had purposefully avoided in th past.

David Pipe told the BBC: "We'll go back and reflect on the race, but perhaps last time in the Tingle Creek Voy Por Ustedes didn't run his race and Twist Magic did, I don't know.

"It doesn't matter now and we've won this fantastic race. Good horses win at any distance."

Paul Nicholls said of Twist Magic: "I was worried before we ran at Sandown and we let him take his chance but the ground wasn't as bad that day. We got away with it then and today we didn't. I won't run him on that ground again.

"He cruised there but a three-miler won it today and that tells you everything. We'll leave him fresh now and, like I said, we won't run him on that ground again."