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12 entries for Queen Mother Chase6th March 2008
Defending champion Voy Por Ustedes appears among 12 entries to have stood their ground in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Alan King's seven-year-old has not enjoyed an ideal build-up to the defence of his title having been beaten by Twist Magic in the Tingle Creek and Master Minded in the Game Spirit, but he is proven over course and distance.
The Sir Robert Ogden-owned gelding also won the Arkle in 2006 and his jockey Robert Thornton is confident the race will be run to suit him:
"They can carry on writing him off, that's fine by me as I think he's my best chance (of the week)," said Thornton.
"They hadn't gone that quick early in the Game Spirit and from my point of view we could have done with an end-to-end gallop. He's a solid two-miler and he sees out the trip very well and they will go a good clip at Cheltenham. There's horses in there that will make it like Newmill and Fair Along. I'm sure he'll be bang there at the last."
The Paul Nicholls-trained duo of Twist Magic and Master Minded also feature among the confirmations.
David Pipe has left in Tamarinbleu,winner of the Victor Chandler Chase, but he also has the option of the Ryanair Chase while 2006 winner Newmill is still engaged.
Fair Along, Lennon and former Arkle winner Contraband remain as do Mansony and Schindlers Hunt.
Azulejo and Fustrien du Paon complete the list.
Double Festival winner, Voy Por Ustedes