Cheltenham Festival 2011: Big Zeb has the class to retain the Queen Mother Champion Chase crown
March 15, 2011 By
Irish-trained chaser will be difficult to beat on a sound surface in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, says JA McGrath.
Cheltenham Festival 2011: jockey Ruby Walsh has returned to fitness in time to continue his reign
March 14, 2011 By
Ruby Walsh talks about his fitness and his hopes for the four big days
Stan James Top Price Master Minded
February 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Today StanJames.com are offering top industry price on Master Minded in their Queen Mother Champion Chase ante-post market at the Cheltenham Festival.
Master Minded is the favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase after an unbeaten three-race season so far, including another two Grade 1 events. However, despite this, StanJames.com think Master Minded is still not quite the horse he was a few years ago when he won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in both 2008 and 2009, particularly in 2008 when Master Minded destroyed his opposition, so they are happy to lay him.
This offer runs all day Monday Feb 28th and ends at midnight. It is the latest in a series of Cheltenham Festival offers as the online firm continue their countdown to the greatest horse racing meeting on Earth.
Queen Mother Champion Chase betting from StanJames.com (e/w terms 1/4 1,2,3)
11/4 Master Minded (top industry price)
3/1 Big Zeb
6/1 Somersby
7/1 Woolcombe Folly
11/1 Captain Cee Bee
12/1 Golden Silver
14/1 Sizing Europe
20/1 bar
Queen Mother Champion Chase 2011 Betting Update
February 1, 2011 By 1 Comment
Henrietta Knight announced today that Somersby will head to the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
He was beaten by a small margin at Ascot by dual Champion Chase winner Master Minded in the Victor Chandler Chase, but could he go one better at Cheltenham?
Watch the Queen Mother Champion Chase Warm Up….
He is favourite for the Ryanair Chase with some firms but Henrietta Knight is keener to go for the Champion Chase.
From her website:
“Somersby is extremely well and fresh. We have decided that his most likely race at Cheltenham will be the Champion Chase on the Wednesday. That is our aim. Knight also issued an upbeat report on Grand National hope Calgary Bay, second at Cheltenham on Saturday. With Doncaster abandoned last Saturday, Calgary Bay, who was three-quarters of the way there, was re-routed to Cheltenham – his second preference. After five hours in the horsebox, he ran a super race to finish second to Wishfull Thinking in the Murphy Group Chase. He will now have a rest and be prepared for the Grand National in April.”
Big Zeb will also be back for the Champion Chase….
Master Minded Eased After Narrow Ascot Win
January 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Master Minded has been eased to 2/1 (from 5/2) at the head of the market for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase by totesport after he scrambled home in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot this afternoon. Watch the race…
Runner-up Somersby has been cut to 7/1 (from 20/1) by totesport for the same race whilst he is now the 9/2 joint-favourite (from 8/1) for the Ryanair Chase.
“Master Minded made very hard work of landing the spoils at Ascot and although he remains favourite for the Champion Chase for the time being, his position at the head of the market could be vulnerable in the coming weeks,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.
Grandouet is the new 15/2 favourite (from 11/1) for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with totesport after sluicing up in the Ascot Annual Badgeholders’ Juvenile Hurdle by six lengths.
William Hill also cut Master Minded’s Championship odds out to 5-2 from 7-4. The eight-year-old was always travelling supremely, putting in some spectacular jumping displays throughout, before almost being collared on the line by his finishing pursuer, rewarding Paul Nicholls with a third successive victory in the event.
William Hill chopped Henrietta Knights gallant performer from 25-1 to 9-1 for the Championship two-mile event, in addition clipping him into 9-2 second-favouritism from 8-1 for the Ryanair Chase.
Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, said, Weve become used to Master Minded strolling to success with lengths to spare this season, however another cosy victory was not to be with scintillating Somersby pushing him right the way to the finish in a real spine-tingler .
Queen Mother Champion Chase: 5-2Master Minded, 7-2 Big Zeb, 7-1 Woolcombe Folly, 8-1 Somersby, 10-1 Sizing Europe, 12-1 Tataniano, 14-1 Captain Cee Bee, Golden Silver, 16-1 Forpadydeplasterer, 25-1 Gauvain, 33-1 Crack Away Jack, French Opera, Jy Vole, Mad Max, Petit Robin, 40-1 Tchico Polos, 50-1 BAR (E/W 1/4 1,2,3)
Tiger O’Toole has been cut to 16/1 (from 40/1) for the totesport Trophy by the sponsors following his victory in the victorchandler.com Holloway’s Hurdle. Runner-up Walkon was also cut to 20/1 (from 33/1) for the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle after trainer Alan King revealed the horse would head straight for the Festival.
Wed: 3:20 Queen Mother Champion Chase Preview
March 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment
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.
Champion Chase Betting Advice;
- Master Minded- Win.
Here is the Paul Nicholls stable tour…
Get a £25 Free Bet;
The ATR team preview the Champion Chase
Martin Pipe Says Dunguib, Kauto Star and Master Minded are Festival Bankers
March 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Training legend Martin Pipe believes the Dunguib camp have done the right thing in sticking to the novice route at Cheltenham next week. Connections of last year’s brilliant Bumper winner have resisted calls to tackle the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle rather than the Spinal Research Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
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.”
Get a £25 Free Bet for Cheltenham with Stan James
Martin Pipe in days gone by winning at Cheltenham;
Twist Magic Excites Connections
March 9, 2010 By 1 Comment
Leading Queen Mother Champion Chase hope Twist Magic is reported to be in rude health after enjoying a schooling session under big-race jockey Robert Thornton.
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.”
The Best Prices for the Champion Chase are below;
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.”
Get your £25 Free Bet from Stan James;
Get On 6/1 Cheltenham Festival Banker Bet
March 3, 2010 By 1 Comment
Over four days, four horses, one every day will be the banker for many people at the 2010 Cheltenham Festival. But if you have them in a four timer, you could walk away with a 6/1 return, assuming they all win of course.
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.
The accumulator pays 6/1 + with Stan James. Bet now and get a £25 free bet….
Bet now with Stan James, four horses 1 bet pays over 6/1.
Best Price on Master Minded for the Champion Chase
March 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Master Minded is a short price for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival on March 17th. The Paul Nicholls trained chaser is looking for his third Champion Chase in a row and is now odds on to do so.
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.
