Looks Like Trouble hammers rivals

Looks Like Trouble could be aimed at the King George

Looks Like Trouble gave jockey Richard Johnson a dream debut at Down Royal in the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase on Saturday.

The 2000 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner finished 15 lengths clear of the field.

The horse jumped superbly to run the rest of the field off their feet and a particularly spectacular effort at the fourth last settled the race.

After that it was just a matter of Looks Like Trouble seeing the trip out as Florida Pearl and Dorans Pride tried to stay in touch.

Dorans Pride had shadowed the leader throughout but in the closing stages found it a lost cause.

Nothing extra

Florida Pearl, who had been in third place, made his effort three out but found nothing extra when asked a question by jockey Ruby Walsh.

Afterwards Johnson said: "This was marvellous. Looks Like Trouble has improved from last year and his jumping was superb.

I thought he might have over-jumped on occasions and my heart was in my mouth

  Noel Chance

"He was always going easily and I knew I held a winning chance, to be honest I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until we jumped the last."

Winning trainer Noel Chance said: "That was brilliant. His jumping made all the difference. I thought he might have over-jumped on occasions and my heart was in my mouth.

Draw sting

"I also felt that at one stage early in the race he wasn't far enough in front of the others.

"We had wanted to draw the string from Florida Pearl and I thought that Florida was too close for comfort.

"In fact when I saw how well he was turned out immediately before the race I thought we might have problems."

But Chance need not have worried.

Richard Johnson: Winning jockey

His horse will now probably be aimed at the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day with an alternative option of the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown, also over Christmas.

Bookmakers Sean Graham and Paddy Power differed in their reading of the race.

Graham makes See More Business 5-1 favourite for the Gold Cup with Looks Like Trouble 6-1.

Paddy Power has Looks Like Trouble at 4-1 favourite with See More Business at 5-1.

A disappointed Willie Mullins, trainer of Florida Pearl, who finished fourth of the five runners said: "He didn't run up to his best. I will probably run him again before Christmas."

Second place went to Dorans Pride trained by Michael Hourigan who also saddled the third horse Inis Cara.