Randox Topham Chase

TRAINER Peter Bowen has an enviable record in the Topham, having won the race with Dunbrody Millar and three times with the mercurial Always Waining.

He equalled Nicky Henderson’s record of five winners in the two-mile, five-furlong contest when Mac Tottie bounced back to form to follow up his win in the Grand Sefton Chase over course and distance in November.

Mac Tottie, owned and bred by Steve and Jackie Fleetham, was having his first start over these fences in the Grand Sefton, but he looked a natural in beating Senior Citizen there, and proved the point to score decisively, with trainer’s son Sean taking over in the saddle from his brother James.

The latter was claimed by boss Nicky Henderson to ride first-fence faller Magical Lady and, while entitled to feel hard done by, had the consolation of a good vantage point as he cheered the winner home.

Some generous handicapping meant that he was able to compete here off the same mark as for that win, and subsequent defeats have either come on much softer ground, or in the case of his prep run at Newcastle, minus his usual hood.

He looked right back to his best here as he made ground from the middle of the field, having sat off the strong pace set by Janika, and he looked the winner as he loomed into contention going to the penultimate fence.

A brace of greys in the form of Batcio (Ted Walsh/Adam Wedge) and Annamix (Willie Mullins) emerged as the dangers between the last two, but the well-backed 8/1 shot kept going strongly to beat that pair by four and a half lengths and six lengths, with the winner’s stablemate Francky Du Berlais staying on late to grab fourth. All horses and riders returned unscathed.