The winner of this Prestige Steeplechase over 4900m was Magic Wonder impressively by six and a half lengths in the fast time of 5:49.31 (fifty-two seconds faster than a year ago). The winners and where they came from on the home turn were fourth (five-off the inside and two and a half lengths from the leader), fifth (six-off the inside and three lengths from the leader), led (six-off the inside and a length from the leader), sixth (on the inside fence and two and a half lengths from the leader), second (nine-off the inside and half a length from the leader), led (ten-off the inside and five lengths clear), led (two-off the inside and a neck ahead), led (one-off the inside and a length ahead), led (one-off the inside and a neck ahead), fourth (five-off the inside and two lengths from the leader) and eighth (five-off the inside and four lengths from the leader). Magic Wonder bolted in here as a chaser two starts ago and has had a flat run in between times before romping in again today with the bigger fences ahead of him. He raced ninth then improved fifth the hill the first time before ending up third a lap out the inside then into second starting the hill for the second and final time. He took command down the hill the last time and drew away for a very easy and soft win at the line. It was his sixth win in forty-three starts and was his first success in a Prestige jumps race at his fourth attempt, after a fourth (beaten over thirty-lengths) in a Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) and a fifth (beaten over six lengths) in the Waikato Steeplechase (3900m) and a ninth (beaten ten lengths) in the McGregor Grant (4150m) here. The way he is leaping this course he has become a real Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) prospect here in a couple of weeks. Southern Cool was second home after racing sixth the outer and being seventh the hill the last time and fourth coming down the hill. He moved into a clear second turning for home but was chasing in vain. Third home was Napoleon that raced back and was ninth over the hill the first time and sixth the second and final time before moving into fifth at the 600m and fourth the home turn then third at the 200m. Grinner raced tenth mostly but improved dramatically to be fifth the hill the last time and reached third on the way down it before being fourth at the 200m. Shamal settled back and plugged on from seventh turning for home but was still seventeen lengths from the winner at the line. Des De Jeu jumped his first two fences poorly and settled seventh before reaching sixth at the 600m but he too only plugged thereafter. Delacroix was seventh beaten just over eighteen lengths having been tenth over the hill both the first and last time. Zamora was on the early pace then settled second and was fifth a lap out before challenging the eventual winner on the hill the last time and being second still at the 600m. He weakened out at be beaten over twenty-one lengths. The three other finishers were beaten over forty-one lengths and as far as over fifty-four lengths while Old Countess was retired near the 600m and her stablemate That's How It Goes never cleared the final fence when spent. The winner jogged it and should be favourite now the Great Northern Steeplechase (6400m) in a couple of weeks as the field is looking worse by the week. Wise Men Say will be going for three Great Northern Steeplechases (after winning in 2017 and last year) but needs rain. Never worry about his big failures and last year in this very race he ran eighth of fourteen runners beaten thirty-six lengths on a heavy track before winning the big race on a bog. Expect another form reversal if he gets conditions to suit.