Master Minded to fulfil star billing

Phase two of Paul Nicholls's strategy of striking while the iron is red-hot is enacted today, with the reappearance of the horse responsible for a near-vacuum in front of the Cheltenham grandstands as his precocious brilliance prompted a mass intake of breath. In winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the tender age of five, Master Minded jumped straight to the top of the ratings.

The two-mile monarch is now judged the best chaser in Britain by industry bible Timeform, ahead of Kauto Star and Denman. And his 19-length victory at the Festival took so little out of him that Nicholls swiftly revised his plans to put him away for the season.

Master Minded has half a mile farther to go today, but that causes neither his trainer, nor jockey Ruby Walsh, a flicker of concern. The gelding has, after all, won three times over two and a quarter miles in heavy ground at Auteuil, and the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham was considered a valid alternative target.

"He improved enormously on the run-up to Cheltenham," said Nicholls, "and we haven't been hard on him since. He's fresh and well and happy, and went really well when we popped him over some fences earlier in the week."

Master Minded's rivals today include three others coming on from the Champion Chase: Voy Por Ustedes, who also followed him in respectfully on his previous run, Tamarinbleu, so disappointing, and former winner Newmill, now surely a light of past days. Mr McGoldrick bounced back to his best in one of the Festival handicaps and is a flat-track specialist but, like the others, is simply not good enough. This is not an occasion for a bet, just one to revel in the sheer talent of Master Minded (3.10).

The upsurge in quality at this meeting is further emphasised today by the presence of three other Festival Grade One winners in the novices' contests, the chaser Albertas Run and hurdlers Captain Cee Bee and Nenuphar Collonges.

The opener is a re-run of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase and although the winner there, Albertas Run, may be less suited by Aintree than Cheltenham, the same could be said for his immediate pursuers Roll Along and Battlecry. But it may pay to take a chance with Starzaan (2.00), who was travelling well enough last month when a mistake stopped him in his tracks. Cedrus Libani, unbeaten over fences, is up in grade and will need to improve for the step up in trip.

Captain Cee Bee (4.20), decisive winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is difficult to oppose, even with unexposed Greenbridge. Nenuphar Collonges, though, can be taken on with The Tother One, who will the assistance of Ruby Walsh this time, and Tazbar (2.35), who missed Cheltenham for this.

In the handicaps the key may the Cheltenham race won by Mr McGoldrick, through runner-up Gwanako (3.45), who can go one better over the National fences in the Topham Chase, and Boychuk (4.55).

Chris McGrath
Nap: Tazbar(Aintree 2.35)
NB: Boychuk
(Aintree 4.55)

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