Well Chief - impressive winning comeback.

returning chief back in charge

Well Chief reigned supreme on his first start for 658 days as he staked his Cheltenham claims in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

Trained by David Pipe's father Martin in his earlier days, the eight-year-old belongs to a vintage crop of two-mile chasers and had signed off before his enforced break by beating Azertyuiop in a top event at Sandown.

Although his well-being had to be taken on trust, there was no lack of support for Timmy Murphy's mount and he was backed down to 5-2 at the off.

As expected, Ashley Brook set a fierce gallop up front and he had a commanding advantage swinging for home, although the David Johnson-owned Well Chief was moving ominously well in an ever-closer second.

He effortlessly challenged the front-runner approaching the third-last and glided home to beat the 9-4 favourite by 11 lengths.

Pipe said: "I thought he was fit enough to do himself justice and he has had a good blow afterwards. He goes on any ground and I just wanted it to be safe for him.

"I know it sound boring, but I just hope that he is OK in the morning.

"David Johnson has allowed us to take our time with him and he was superb today.

"I wanted to give him a run somewhere as he is a buzzy horse and he was keen over the first three or four.

"He jumped better than I thought he would. Timmy came to school him during the week and he was OK, but he really came up at the first ditch and it was great to see.

"He had been showing at home that he still goes well, but we will take it day by day with him."

Johnson, speaking from Barbados, told At The Races: "He's been off for almost two years and we were a bit apprehensive.

"He's done it well and I could not be more pleased.

"I think he could improve. He wouldn't have been spot-on today, that's for sure.

"We'll see how he is, but all roads lead to Cheltenham and we'll go there with a big chance."

Murphy said simply: "It was great.

"The plan was just to get him back and keep things nice and simple.

"He's a very good horse and fingers crossed he stays in one piece."

Kevin Bishop said of the runner-up: "I think we were probably just beaten by a better horse on the day.

"He jumped and ran well, but Well Chief was very impressive.

"We will keep our options open now. The Queen Mother is the race we have kept in mind, but we will keep an eye on the Ryanair.

"We'll look at the ground, have a chat with Paddy Brennan, but we are quite well in at the weights in the Ryanair."