Wed: 3:20 Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview

By Racing Diary on March 16, 2010

3:20 Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1)

This is all about Master Minded. Paul Nicholls’ horse has won two Champion Chases already and goes for three in a row here. It will be a major story should he win and similarly should he get beaten. So will Master Minded win the Champion Chase.

Yes.

Okay, perhaps it is not quite that simple but the evidence of his last run in the Game Spirit Chase at Sandown suggests he is back to his best and at his best he is way better than anything in this field. Master Minded is a short price but is the winner in my book.

How did Ruby Walsh say on Master Minded?

Some will point to his defeat on his penultimate start. There was a genuine excuse there, he has a fractured rib but despite that being found some will take that form at face value. Anyone doing that is an idiot. Having recovered from that Master Minded came back at Newbury and won despite a shocking error at the last.

Some will say that Master Minded is all of a sudden a suspect jumper. Again they are the words of an idiot. Ruby Walsh immediately owned up to it being his fault. A big man who takes the ride again and for me is the safest bet of the week. Master Minded will land his third Champion Chase.

Kalahari King is a good horse for the each-way money, but not in the class of Master Minded. Even on official ratings Master Minded is way ahead of the field.