tracked leaders, not fluent 7th, challenged 9th, led 4 out, soon in command, well clear when blundered badly last, eased flat
tracked leader, led 4th, ridden when headed 4 out, blundered and weakened 3 out, hit next
led, not fluent 3rd (water), headed 4th, stayed pressing leader, pushed along and outpaced 9th, kept on to press for well held 2nd flat, never any chance with winner
always last, losing touch when went right 6th, tailed off 8th
tracked leading pair, blundered 5th, went 2nd and blundered 2 out, no chance with easy winner
MASTER MINDED won this race 24 months ago en-route to Queen Mother Champion Chase glory and it could be deja-vu as he can see off old rival Voy Por Ustedes and new pretender Fix The Rib. Paul Nicholls' charge really burst onto the scene when taking this in 2008 in his first season chasing in the UK. He is the most talented two mile chaser around but there are worries. His reappearance run this season was blighted by hanging right up the Cheltenham hill and he lacked any sparkle as he ran well below his best. However connections feel that they have got to the root of that problem and his current price for Cheltenham will look massive should he scoot up here. Voy Por Ustedes chased him home in 2008 and is a talented horse, but his best trip is further than two miles now and he looks bound for the Ryanair after this, a race he was second in last season. Fix The Rib was a progressive handicapper a year ago and he still has more to give; AP McCoy looks an interesting jockey booking for the hardest race of this gelding's career. Kinkeel is chasing rainbows (and almost £1,500 fifth place prize money), but Mahogany Blaze has a shout. He's a good horse without being spectacular but he was ahead of Master Minded in November and therefore cannot be overlooked receiving 10lb today. He'll need to bounce back, but Master Minded can retain his crown.
Master Minded (FR) 4-7fav (11-10) Led 2nd, hung right right from 4th, headed 3 out, remained challenging, every chance when hung left approaching last, one pace flat, 3rd of 6, 4l behind Well Chief (11-0) at Cheltenham 2m chs (2) sft in Nov.
Voy Por Ustedes (FR) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd before 6 out, 4th under pressure before 3 out, no extra after 2 out, 6th of 11, 21l behind What A Friend (11-10) at Leopardstown 3m Grade 1 chs in Dec.
Fix The Rib (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Led until mistake and headed 7th, weakened into 5th when fell 8th, in a race won by Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec, 8 ran.
Kinkeel (IRE) 8-1 (10-11) In touch, challenged after 10th, weakened 4 out, pulled up before last, in a race won by Killfinnan Castle (10-7) at Fontwell 2m 6f hcp chs 0-90 (5) sft, 8 ran.
Mahogany Blaze (FR) 9-1 (11-0) Held up in rear, some headway approaching 4 out, weakened before next, 5th of 8, 18l behind Petit Robin (11-4) at Kempton 2m Grade 2 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec.
