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Alan Magee
The Game Changer completes Graded treble
The Game Changer (right) is about to head Sizing Platinum at the last
© Photo Healy Racing
The Game Charger has taken really well to fences this year, and recorded his sixth chase win since tackling the larger obstacles in May by readily landing the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown.
Just four went to post after Shantou Flyer was ruled out due to coughing, and The Game Changer was sent off the evens favourite to complete a hat-trick of Grade 3 wins.
Bryan Cooper oozed confidence as his mount tracked the front-running Sizing Platinum while Miss Dinamic did her chance no favours by clouting the second last.
The Game Changer was running all over her rivals in the straight and, after landing in front over the last, stretched clear with the minimum of fuss on the run-in to score by an easy three lengths.
Sizing Platinum took the runner-up berth two and a half lengths ahead of Miss Dinamic. Rightdownthemiddle fell three out but was remounted to take fourth-place money.
Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, "He's entered at Cheltenham next weekend but I'd say we might have to take a pull now. He's after winning three Graded races now and has turned inside out. He loves it over fences. He'll get a break now until the spring and we'll look at the festivals at the back-end.
"If you look back to Galway he can still be tricky enough but when he gets there and things work out he's good."
"He'd have to improve again (to make up into a Grade 1 horse) as he's beating summer horses. We could look at Aintree and Punchestown with him. The Grand Annual is also an option."
(GC & AM)