Twist Magic ran out an impressive winner at Sandown

Sam Thomas's mount took control turning for home and overcame a slight mistake at the second-last to power home.

The victory gave Thomas his third win on the day and continued his excellent run of big-race victories over the past month.

Voy Por Ustedes (evens) finished three lengths back, well clear of third-placed Monet's Garden (7-2).

Thomas was full of praise for the five-year-old, who has taken over from Voy Por Ustedes as favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March.

"He travelled so well and jumped awesome," he admitted. "He has so much scope and had probably taken me there sooner than I wanted.

"He's a proper horse and the ground was not an inconvenience to him at all but he has done it nicely."

Trainer Paul Nicholls said: "Obviously, I was really concerned about the soft ground because as a young horse, he didn't like it.

606: DEBATE He destroyed a classy field in some style CP

"He is obviously older and more mature now and the horse are flying, which helps.

"If anything I thought he was in front too soon and I was worried that he was going to idle a bit.

"But he jumped so well and travelled so well that he just took Sam there - it was a really good performance.

"It wasn't an ideal place to be in front on him and a better-run race will suit him even better.

"We might just give him one run in the Game Spirit before the Champion Chase."