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.

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• Master Minded- Win.

Here is the Paul Nicholls stable tour…

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The ATR team preview the Champion Chase

Tuesday- Champion Hurdle

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Wednesday- Champion Chase

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Thursday- World Hurdle

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Friday- Gold Cup

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Kauto Star Gold Cup Favourite

The now-retired Pipe, twice a winner of the Champion, is in agreement with that line of thinking – and rates the seven-year-old Dunguib as the ‘banker’ of the showcase meeting. He told the Daily Mail:

“I would have done the same thing. The Irish think Dunguib is the banker and if I had to take five horses there he’d be my first choice. A fast-run race will be ideal for him.”

Pipe is also in the corner of Kauto Star landing a third totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup. He added:

“The ground looks to be favouring him more than Denman and he’s simply the best. Master Minded won well last time after the injury and should win another Champion Chase.”

Pipe also gave a good word to two contenders trained by his son, David. He said:

“Notus De La Tour is near top weight in the Fred Winter and he’s only had one run for the stable. But he’s a nice young horse who will want good ground. Ashkazar has been a little disappointing but the conditions (in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle) should suit him and I’m expecting him to go a lot better.”

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Martin Pipe in days gone by winning at Cheltenham;

Twist Magic Champion Chase

Paul Nicholls‘ eight-year-old is enjoying arguably his best ever campaign having won the Tingle Creek at Sandown and Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase.

With regular pilot Ruby Walsh unsurprisingly opting to ride stablemate Master Minded, Thornton will get the leg up on Wednesday week and part-owner Barry Fulton was thrilled after watching the combination in action on Tuesday morning.

“He just had a school round on his own under ‘Choc’ (Thornton) and everything went very well,” said Fulton. I have to say he is looking very well at the moment which is great as he has been a little dull in his coat in previous years. I am beginning to feel the nerves a little but it’s very exciting and we’re really looking forward to Cheltenham. He’s just seemed a different horse so far this year and I’m not too concerned about the ‘Cheltenham factor’ to be honest. I think he would have gone very close to winning an Arkle if he hadn’t fallen but it is all about jumping and I suppose he’s got to prove he gets up that hill. I really can’t complain about this season as he has already won two Grade Ones and who knows, maybe he’ll make it a third next week.”

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Fulton acknowledges Twist Magic has plenty on his plate up against dual champion chaser Master Minded but is looking forward to the big clash.

“I had a quick word with Master Minded this morning but he wasn’t saying much,” quipped Fulton. We all know he’s the one to beat and I believe he’s in good form, so we’ll just have to see what happens on the day. We’ll have a fantastic day out no matter what.”

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Big Bucks'

Big 4 Special – Which Horse Will Start At Shortest Price? ~ Special
8 Dunguib
4 Master Minded
4-5 Big Buck’s
9-4 Kauto Star


Big 4 Special – Which Horse Will Win By Furthest? ~ Special

11-8 Kauto Star
9-4 Master Minded
7-2 Big Buck’s
5 Dunguib
14 No Winners

Big 4 Special – What Will Happen First? ~ Special

4-6 Dunguib Wins Supreme Novices
11-4 Master Minded Wins Queen Mother
6 Big Bucks Wins World Hurdle
14 No Winners
20 Kauto Star Wins Gold Cup


Big 4 Special – How Many Of Big 4 Will Win? ~ Special

6-4 2 Winners
5-2 3 Winners
11-4 1 Winner
13-2 4 Winners
14 No Winners

Dunguib Winning Distance Special ~ Special
5-2 Under 4 Lengths
10 Exactly 4 Lengths
5-2 Over 4 Lengths

Master Minded Winning Distance Special ~ Special
5-2 Under 5 Lengths
5-2 Over 5 Lengths
10 Exactly 5 Lengths


Big Bucks Winning Distance Special ~ Special
5-2 Under 4 Lengths
5-2 Over 4 Lengths
10 Exactly 4 Lengths

Kauto Star Winning Distance Special ~ Special
5-2 Under 7 Lengths
5-2 Over 7 Lengths
10 Exactly 7 Lengths

How Many Irish Trained Festival Winners ~ Special
7-4 6.5 – 8.5
6-4 Over 8.5
2 Under 6.5

How Many Winners Will R. Walsh Have At The Cheltenham Festival 2010? ~
6-4 4.5 – 6.5
7-4 Over 6.5
2 Under 4.5


How Many Winners Will P.Nicholls Have At The Cheltenham Festival 2010 ~
33 None
14 One
12 Two
9-2 Three
9-4 Four
5-2 Five
5 Six
12 Seven Or More

Gold Cup 2010-Kauto Star v Denman v The Field ~ Special
4-6 Kauto Star
11-4 The Field
3 Denman

Kauto Star Gold Cup Favourite

So what are the four Cheltenham Festival bankers?

Tuesday- Supreme Novice Hurdle- DUNGUIB

Unbeaten to date, last year’s Champion Bumper winner has looked superb over hurdles. He has been backed in to 4/6 and is the Irish banker of the meeting, in the first race. he should win if everything we have seen and heard is to be believed.

Wednesday, Champion Chase- MASTER MINDED

Its over to Paul Nicholls for the next three days. Master Minded is going for a historic third successive Champion Chase. he had a cracked rib but came right back to form last time out and if on form should win again with Ruby Walsh aboard.

Thursday, World Hurdle- BIG BUCKS’

Big Bucks’ is many peoples idea of the best bet of the week. He has look unbeatable and should win this cosily if all goes to plan. This is the one to be most confident about.

Friday, Gold Cup- KAUTO STAR

Kauto Star is looking for a third Gold Cup. Last time out in the King George he put up a performance, the likes of which I have never seen. On the forecast ground he is a good thing, providing Denman doesnot spoil the party. He will need to run better than last time out at Newbury.

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Bet now with Stan James, four horses 1 bet pays over 6/1.

Cheltenham Festival bound

Diamond Harry is generally a 7/1 chance for the RSA Chase- best prices below;

“I’ve only won on him once over fences at Newbury where he jumped OK, but he is a better horse than the bare form of that race shows,” said Murphy. I’m sure Nick (Williams) will get him back for Cheltenham and he is a horse that takes a bit of knowing. He doesn’t have a lot of scope but he’s pretty accurate with his feet in front.”

Timmy Murphy has a number of other good rides to look forward to at the Festival including Chapoturgeon and old stager Well Chief in the Champion Chase.

“Chapoturgeon did disappoint a bit last time but personally I don’t think he likes soft ground,” Murphy told At The Races. I think he’s a better horse on better ground and obviously he’s got to step up if he’s going to go for the Ryanair Chase with a chance. Well Chief is a credit to anyone whose had anything to do with him and the Pipes think they have him back as good as he ever was. If he goes out and gets a clear round, takes care of himself and takes care of me and runs to the best of his ability we can’t ask for more of him.”

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Murphy’s stable star was a close second to Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle at last year’s Festival.

And this time round he takes on the mighty Master Minded in the two-mile Wednesday feature. Murphy told Sky Sports News:

“Looking at the betting he’s 6/1 for the Queen Mother. To me we only have Master Minded to beat and as a each-way bet at 6/1 for me is buying money and it will be good business.”

Kalahari King is in good order having run out an impressive winner of the Blue Square Handicap Chase at Doncaster earlier this month. And Murphy hoping that the race at Cheltenham will be run to suit his charge. He said:

“It’s nice to see he’s second favourite for the Queen Mother. Obviously Masterminded is the king – he’s been there the last two years and done it and I would imagine that on good ground he’ll pop out and make it and it would be an ideal situation for us to just get tracked through and try to challenge at the last and hopefully get up the hill well.”

The recent freezing temperatures disrupted many stables, but Murphy had no problems keeping Kalahari King sharp.

He revealed: “We got a bad snow fall in January and obviously our gallops were wet. On the main gallop we had 16 inches of snow so in a three-week period he was in Redcar for 14 days. He’s very good to travel and doesn’t mind going in the box and he absolutely adores the beach. He’s one of those horses who loves it and he really thrived on it.”

Master Minded back to his best says Paul Nicholls

Master Minded is very likely to be heavily supported, especially after looking back to his best last time out. It may be worth getting on now. Below are the best prices, updated live, for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Barry Geraghty partnered Tom Cooper’s charge to glory in the Arkle 12 months ago and despite being on board in a gallop after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday, he has informed Cooper he will be unavailable at the Festival. Geraghty’s mount now rests between the Colm Murphy-trained Big Zeb and Nicky Henderson’s Petit Robin, with the latter handler having first call on his services. Cooper was delighted with Forpadydeplasterer’s exercise and moved quickly to snap up the services of the champion jockey.

“Barry has told me he won’t be riding so we’ve booked Tony McCoy,” said Cooper. I was delighted with how he jumped yesterday, he put in some mighty leaps so he must be feeling well in himself. Also he won’t have been mad about that ground as everybody knows and by the looks of it, it should be a lot better ground at Cheltenham. We’ll take him away for one more bit of work somewhere early next week.”

However, Colm Murphy was unable to confirm whether or not Geraghty would be on Big Zeb. “I was talking to Barry on Saturday and he just needs to talk to Mr Henderson and his owners,” said Murphy.

Big Zeb was last seen putting his Tingle Creek disappointment well behind him with a confidence-boosting success in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.

“He’s very well at the moment,” added Murphy. We’ll keep ticking away with him and probably take him away for a gallop somewhere before we head over. Voler La Vedette is also in good form and they’ll be the only two I’ll take over this year.”