PETIT ROBIN can lower the colours of Twist Magic in Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase.

Nicky Henderson’s sevenyear- old is one of the emerging talents in the two-mile field and enjoyed an excellent first season over fences. He was third in last year’s Champion Chase at Cheltenham.

He also chased home Master Minded in this Grade One event last year, finishing a 16- length second behind an undoubted superstar, but he went off the boil slightly when well out of contention on his final start at Aintree.

Henderson did not rush him back into action this term, side-stepping a couple of possible targets to wait for Kempton over the festive period.

That patience paid off with a commanding performance in Grade Two company, easily holding the reopposing Well Chief by just under four lengths.

Petit Robin was always in the front rank that day and shrugged off a mistake at the last to prove he is really starting to come of age.

He faces a top-class rival in Twist Magic, but that horse has disappointed here before and Petit Robin is the value option with Tony McCoy doing the steering.

Henderson should also be on the mark at Haydock as reigning champion Punjabi will take some beating in the sportingbet.com Champion Hurdle Trial.

Punjabi needs plenty of work to get him right and he was evidently in need of his reappearance run at Cheltenham.

Fourth behind Khyber Kim was not too bad but a significantly improved effort is expected here.

Diamond Harry is worth a look as he makes his fencing bow in the sportingbet.com Altcar Novices’ Chase, while Prince De Beauchene is the choice in the big staying race, the Peter Marsh Chase.

Take It There can reap the benefit of a recent pipe-opener on the Flat with a victory over fences at Market Rasen tomorrow.

Trainer Alastair Lidderdale gave the eight-year-old mare a run at Wolverhampton and although she cut no ice in a mile-and-a-half handicap it is bound to have done her good.

Bred by The Queen, Take It There was a two-time winner over fences at the Lincolnshire track in November and can add a third success in the Get Racing UK In Your Pub 08703518834 Handicap Chase.

Stockton Flyer can land Towcester’s gg.com Handicap Chase for trainer Paul Cowley after sticking on well to claim second spot over this extended three miles in November.

The nine-year-old could never get in a blow at the winner, Master Overseer, after making a bad blunder three out, but can go one better this time.

The feature on a quality jumps card at Leopardstown is the Toshiba Irish Champion Hurdle, in which Solwhit can show he will be a tough nut to crack in the big one at Cheltenham.