Charlie Hall Chase winner Ollie Magern looks set to make the most of last Saturday's Cheltenham meeting being called off when the re-routed HBLB Cotswold Chase is run at Wincanton tomorrow.

A lot of the horses in the original field were not entered for the new race for one reason or another, and there are only five runners remaining. The way is therefore clear for the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained eight-year-old Ollie Magern to get back to the form he showed at the start of his campaign.

Having looked like a serious Gold Cup Contender when giving weight and a beating to Kingscliff and Take The Stand at Wetherby earlier in season, he has failed to go on from that run in two subsequent outings.

But with this contest promising a better opportunity to dominate than his previous two outings, Ollie Magern, with Carl Llewellyn aboard, is napped to return to form and capture the Grade Two prize.

"He ran well for a long way at Sandown and the ground just took its toll in the final half mile," said Twiston-Davies.

"We obviously would have preferred the race to have taken place at Cheltenham, but we had to go somewhere.

"There was a chance we could have taken him to Newbury (for the AON Chase) but if it doesn't rain before then, the ground might be a bit firm.

"Wincanton is a very tight track, but he has won right-handed before. The horse is well and we hope he comes back fine so we can aim for Cheltenham with him."

Jamie Osborne's Desperate Dan can gain another quick fire success by taking the Littlewoods Betdirect Conditions Stakes over six furlongs at Southwell.

Having struggled to get his head in front in two races at the course over five furlongs, he was finally rewarded for his persistence with an impressive win here last time out. Although that success was over five furlongs, he has shown in the past he can handle six.

Karl Burke's nine-year-old Romil Star can gain quick compensation for his latest defeat by taking the mile and a half Betdirect Freephone 0800 211 222 Claiming Stakes. He came up against an improved Hawkit last time out and can win tomorrow.

Thursday's tips:

Wincanton

1.00 Ben's Turn, 1.30 Trade Off, 2.00 Gungadu, 2.30 Cerium, 3.00 The Hairy Lemon, 3.30 Ollie Magern (Nap), 4.00 Bubble Boy, 4.30 Kicks For Free.

Southwell

1.20 Blue Hills, 1.50 Magic Amour, 2.20 Airbound, 2.50 Romil Star, 3.20 Winthorpe, 3.50 Desperate Dan, 4.20 Mission Affirmed.

Tomorrow's other meeting is at Towcester (8am precautionary inspection - possible frost tonight).

Today's Newcastle meeting was called off yesterday afternoon because parts of the course are frozen.

Updated: 12:20 Wednesday, February 01, 2006