Ollie Magern (left) can bounce back from his mishap.

By Carl Llewellyn

Well Chief produced a great performance to win the Victor Chandler Chase at Cheltenham when he gave a lot of weight away to some good horses.

He travelled well throughout the race and jumped great and was impressive which puts him right in line for the Champion Chase at the Festival.

He is right up there on the ratings with Azertyuiop and Moscow Flyer which will make it a great race.

They are three top horses going for the big prize and he is well up to giving the other two a great run for their money.

It was just one of those things when he fell at Wetherby previously but it should not be a problem for him in March.

Lets hope all three get to the fixture in one piece.

I rode Whereareyounow in the Ladboke Chase on the same card and he finished ninth which was disappointing.

I thought that he would improve after his first run but for no real reason he could not go with them when they quickened up. Nothing has come to light to explain it as yet.

On home form he is in great shape and looks a picture but we can't work out why he is not delivering on the track.

Ollie Magern probably made his first mistake in all his runs over fences when he got rid of me at the open ditch in the Pillar Property Chase.

He took off too far away from the fence and came down going through it which was very uncharacteristic really.

I don't really know what happened.

He seemed to be coming into the fence fine and I thought he would put in an extra stride and jump it properly.

But he just lacked a little concentration - it happens every now and again even with the best of jumpers.

I schooled him on Monday and he jumped well and did not seem to be worried by the incident so hopefully he will be able to put that mishap behind him and won't be doing it again.

We are now looking at running over the weekend at either Wetherby or Sandown.

It is easier racing next weekend - Sandown is quite a hot race but he is top-rated in the Wetherby contest and with a clear round should get back to winning ways.

A quick word on the winner of the Pillar Grey Abbey.

He is still improving even though he is now 11-years-old. His jumping is superb and he is probably a worthy third favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup now. I think he will take a lot of passing on the big day.

He has such a great cruising speed and even when other horses get to him he battles back and is a real tough customer.

I was on Lady Zephyr in the Grade 2 novice hurdle and hoped that she would have finished a little bit better than fourth.

She did not travel as well as she normally does during her race and has had a few tough runs recently which may have taken their toll on her.

It will be a few quiet weeks now to freshen her up for the spring.