Looks Like Trouble gave a magnificent jumping performance to easily win the James Nicholson Wine Merchant Champion Chase at Down Royal this afternoon.
The Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is line for a IR£50,000 bonus should he repeat last March`s success at Cheltenham after the 5-4 joint favourite made all the running on his seasonal reappearance in this three-mile contest.
Richard Johnson, making his first visit to the Ulster track, took Looks Like Trouble the front as the tape rose and the 5-4 favourite soon held a lead of a couple of lengths over Dorans Pride with Florida Pearl a similar distance back in third.
There was no change in the order with Looks Like Trouble pulling further ahead thanks to a brilliant leap at the fourth-last fence.
That jump virtually clinched the IR£110,000 prize for Noel Chance`s stable star who was never seriously challenged. He was so far in front of his rivals on the run-in that Johnson eased his mount down towalk, yet he still won by 15 lengths.
Dorans Pride (9-2) stuck on well to keep second with Inis Cara (40-1) pipping the other 5-4 joint favourite Florida Pearl for third.
Florida Pearl, runner-up to Looks Like Trouble in the Gold Cup, was the disappointment of the race.
Ruby Walsh had him close enough if good enough but the eight-year-old appeared to have nothing to give once the English raider turned on the heat.
