Kempton reportVoy Por Ustedes registered back-to-back victories in the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton. Alan King's Champion Chase hero produced yet another masterclass in jumping to defeat Hoo La Baloo with the minimum of fuss.
Although he looked slightly tired at the line, the 2 to 5 favourite barely touched a twig en route to a seven-length verdict under Robert Thornton.
Voy Por Ustedes and Hoo La Baloo put clear daylight between themselves and the rest of the leg-weary field with four fences remaining - the latter just holding a slight advantage.
But once Thornton pressed the button at the next, the response was immediate and decisive.
The six-year-old got a shade close to the penultimate obstacle but that proved no bar to another big-race success for the Robert Ogden-owned gelding, who was giving weight all round.
King said: "That was just what was wanted for the horse. It was frustrating to see him nailed on the line first time back at Cheltenham but he was beaten fair and square by Twist Magic in the Tingle Creek.
"I was very happy with him coming into this and it will be the same lead-in to Cheltenham as last year, with a break and then the Game Spirit."
Stan James left Voy Por Ustedes unchanged at 7 to 2 to win consecutive renewals of the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
King and Thornton doubled up when Yardbird (9 to 2) went one place better than last year in the stanjamesuk.com Handicap Chase. The eight-year-old bounded clear up the straight to beat Caribou by five lengths, with Thistlecraft a further four lengths away in third.
Part-owner Tim Collins said: "He's a hard horse to catch right but the blinkers have made a tremendous difference to him. The ground was fairly testing, which was in his favour."
Mahogany Blaze landed his second victory over course and distance this term with triumph in the Grade Two Stan James Wayward Lad Novices' Chase.
Nigel Twiston-Davies's charge was always up with the pace in the hands of Paddy Brennan and gained a definitive lead from runner-up Pur De Sivola four out.
The outcome was never really in doubt from that juncture as the 11 to 8 favourite overcame a slight mishap at the penultimate fence to win by 16 lengths.
Mahogany Blaze was given a 33 to 1 quote by VC Bet for the Arkle, with Totesport and Ladbrokes shorter in price at 20s.
Stan James gave Red Flare an introductory quote of 33 to 1 for the Triumph Hurdle after a successful debut over timber.
Alan King's three-year-old, ridden by Jack Doyle, outmuscled the 5 to 4 market leader, Hibiki, to win the stanjamesuk.com Juvenile Novices' Hurdle by a length.
King said of the 11 to 1 shot: "In the sense he's only rated 49 on the Flat it was a surprise, and I didn't come here all that bullish about him. But I'm very pleased and it's young Jack Doyle's first winner for me."
Sovietica landed an almighty gamble when making all the running in the stanjamesuk.com Mares Only Handicap Hurdle.
Backed into 17 to 2, Jamie Moore enjoyed a dream ride aboard the Stewart Pike-trained six-year-old to score, going away by two lengths from Hendre Hotshot.
