Scotia on Cheltenham ante-post.

Master Minded survives howler in Game Spirit

Report: Newbury, Saturday

Totepool Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) 2m1f, 5yo+

MASTER MINDED got his bid for a record-equalling third Champion Chase win firmly back on track despite a shocking mistake at the last fence in the Totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old, absent since a below-par performance at Cheltenham in November, travelled in the style which saw him win his two Champion Chases, but, despite producing some brilliant leaps at the closingfances, made a horrible mess of the last and jockey Ruby Walsh excelled in keeping the partnership intact.

William Hill reacted by trimming Master Minded to 4-6 (from 6-4) for a Festival hat-trick, while Boylesports went 4-5 from the same price.

Master Minded was diagnosed with a broken rib following hisdefeat behind Well Chief at Cheltenham and saw stablemate Twist Magic emerge as a leading Champion Chase contender after stylish victories in the Keith Prowse Hospitality TingleCreek and Victor Chandler Chase - two races Clive Smith's superstar won en route to his 2009 Seasons Holiday Queen Mother Champion Chase success.


However, allowing for that horrible error at the last, Master Minded produced the kind of display reminiscent of his Champion Chase demolition in 2008.

Tracking the early pace set by Fix The Rib, Master Minded, sent off the 8-13 favourite, edged slightly right at some of his jumps, but was faultless as he seized the initiative, rapidly putting old rival Voy Por Ustedes, next best in the market at 11-4, to the sword.

Master Minded soon opened up a commanding lead from Fix The Rib (6-1) and Mahogany Blaze (14-1) only to blunder the final fence, a mistake Walsh blamed himselffor.

"It was completely my fault," he said. "He hung a bit but he’s always going to hang a bit. Jesus, he accelerated going down the straight.

"He’s back and coming to the last I thought he had wings but I don’t know how he found a leg. I was going too fast and there was no need to be that extravagant – I’m not into pictures, I’m into winners."

Nicholls, who would edge closer to Pat Taaffe's record of six Champion Chase wins should Master Minded - or Twist Magic - oblige in March, said: "That was grand. It's really good to get him back like that, but he needed to come back.

"He was much more like the horse of hold, tanking along.

"Ruby blamed himself at the last otherwise, he jumped really well and can only improve."

Hobbs confirms Ascot plan for novice Menorah


MENORAH, who bookmakers believe provides Britain's biggest chance of defeating Dunguib in the Spinal Research Supreme Novices' Hurdle, is set to make his next racecourse appearance at Ascot on Saturday.


A comprehensive defeat of recent Newbury winner Bellvano at Kempton in December has left Menorah as short as 7-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle, but those odds could change following his Ascot outing.

Trainer Philip Hobbs said on Monday: "The plan is to run at Ascot on Saturday, although he wouldn't want the ground to turn soft, and, if it did, he could go to Kempton the following weekend.

"He could do withthe experience of another run as much as anything else, which is why we are keen to run him again before Cheltenham. He has done very well so far and his defeat of Bellvano looks to be decent form."

Menorah, who is owned by Diana Whateley, on Monday featured among 31 entries for the Lomax National Hunt Novices' Hurdle, which will be the first of Ascot's seven races on Saturday.

Champion hope Zaynar beaten at 1-14 at Kelso

ZAYNAR, outright favourite for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle with Victor Chandler, suffered a shock defeat at odds of 1-14 at Kelso on Thursday.


Quwetwo, a horse rated 35lb inferior to Zaynar and having his first run for almost a year, made the contest a true test from the off and was always doing enough to hold the JCB Triumph Hurdle winner on the stamina-sapping climb to the line.



Boylesports, who were a best priced 9-2 about Zaynar for the Champion Hurdle going into the race, have now eased his price to 7-1.

Ladbrokes and Totesport now offer an industry-best 8-1 about the Nicky Henderson-trained son of Daylami for championship honours.

Owned by Victor Chander's Men In Our Position syndicate, who sponsored Thursday’s race, Zaynar is shortest with the owners' firm at 6-1.

As a result of Zaynar’s shock defeat, both Solwhit and Go Native have been cut for the Champion with Solwhit a general 7-2 favourite and Go Native half a point bigger at 4-1.

The result comes just a day after Henderson suffered a blow to his Champion Hurdle prospects with news that Binocular was ruled out of the Cheltenham Festival race with a muscle injury

Henderson's third hope for the Champion Hurdle, Punjabi, is due to run at Wincanton on Saturday, but that meeting looks likely to be abandoned, leaving Henderson with another dilemma.


Zaynar’s defeat was the shortest-priced upset in 17 years - the last horse to be defeated at such long odds-on was 1-14 Suluk in a three-runner all-weather hurdle race at Southwell on February 17, 1993.

Following the defeat, Henderson said: “I’m pleased we have done it, although I’m disappointed he was beaten. He obviously needed the race more than I thought.

"They went a good gallop and he had a right blow after the race. The ground was testing but we knew that before we came.

"I will give him the rest of the week off before getting some decent work into him and getting him organised for Cheltenham.”

The giant Quwetwo was slashed to 25-1 (from 66) for the Arkle, despite being unraced over fences. However, owner Graham Wylie ruled out a trip to the festival for the three-time hurdle winner.

Wylie said: “The intention was to go chasing but he has been entered ten times and the meetings have always been off so we decided to stay over hurdles this season. He will not go to Cheltenham and will start off over fences next year.”

Winning rider Wilson Renwick added: “Howard [Johnson] told me to make it a real test in case Zaynar got stuck in the ground. He’s tough and genuine and will prefer better ground. He should be some horse over fences.”

4 weeks yesterday to the big matchup,hope Denman is back sparkling!!

Denman's Gold Cup odds are right, says Findlay


A WEEK on from Denman's bombshell defeat at Newbury, part-owner Harry Findlay said he still viewed the performance as "a disappointment" and considered the bookmakers have his odds about right at 7-2 for the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Findlay said that in the build-up to the Aon Chase he was picking up very positive vibes from the Somerset stable regarding Denman's well being.

"I didn't spend the winter down at Ditcheat but I was hearing great things about Denman that I'd not heard before. I'm therefore a bit more reserved about the performance than the trainer."

Findlay added: "Denman's defeat came to as very big shock to everyone at the yard, unless I got the vibes wrong, and I don't often do that.

"The biggest worry for me was that Tony McCoy didn't appear that happy, although I accept the horse can be a bit lazy and he hadn't ridden him before.

"Overall, I was a bit disappointed and I think the bookmakers have his Gold Cup odds about right at 7-2. When Denman made the first mistake in the home straight the others were too close to home."

He reported that Denman, who was beaten when unseating McCoy at Newbury, schooled under Ruby Walsh at Paul Nicholl's Ditcheat yard on Saturday morning.

Long Run left in both Arkle and RSA Chase

LEADING novice chaser Long Run was left in both the RSA Chase and Irish Independent Arkle Trophy on Wednesday as connectionskept all options covered with the talented ex-French jumper.

Though the 3m RSA Chase remains the five-year-old's most likely target, for which he is second favourite, Long Run was one of 36 horses left in the 2m Arkle after the latest scratching stage.

Trainer Nicky Henderson's main Arkle hopeful Riverside Theatre features alongside the leading hopes in the ante-post betting, favourite Captain Cee Bee, Somersby and Sizing Europe.

Another Henderson star Punchestowns is one of 34 horses that remained in the RSA Chase alongside Long Run and the likes of Diamond Harry, while 52 horses go forward to the National Hunt Chase.

Kauto looks bombproof in Gold Cup - Nicholls

PAUL NICHOLLS on Wednesday predicted that it will take a monumental performance from Denman or any other horse to prevent Kauto Star winning a third Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup, and sealing his place in the pantheon of jumping legends.

"Kauto Star is going to Cheltenham in the form of his life," he told the huge press pack who descended on Manor Farm Stables in Ditcheat, along with a dozen film crews.

"What he did at Kempton in the King George was awesome and he'll go back to Cheltenham in the best form he's ever been. As far as his chance is concerned, there doesn't appear to be any chinks in his armour - he looks bombproof.

"The faster they go in the Gold Cup, the more it will suit him. I said after the King George that if that race were over three and a quarter miles - the distance of the Gold Cup - and not three, he would have ended up winning it by 56 lengths, not 36."

Nicholls continued: "And the ground is not an issue nowadays, as it was on the soft side when he won his first two Gold Cups, and it was pretty tacky when he put up a career-best on Boxing Day."

Whereas it was always the plan to take the reigning champion - who is 4-6 with the sponsor - back to Cheltenham without a prep, Nicholls said Denman's run in the Aon "has brought him on enormously and put him just where we want him".

He warned it would be "foolish to write off Denman" when the two outstanding chasers stage their eagerly anticipated shootout in 22 days time.

"Denman was nowhere nearready at Newbury," Nicholls stressed, "and apart from those two mistakes, which can happen anytime, I was perfectly happy with him - if that hadn't have happened, he would have won, simple as that.


"So anyone who writes off his chance in the Gold Cup on the basis of that performance does so at their peril.

"Remember, it was only in November he gave 22lb and a beating to subsequent Grade 1 winner What A Friend. Enough said!"

Those words will be music to the ears of the sport's marketing gurus, who are desperate to promote the third round of Kauto v Denman as the biggest head-to-head the sport has seen in the last 50 years.

Nicholls said there was no reason why March 19 should be the last time the two great chasers clash.

"If we don't over-race them, there's no reason why they can't return again next year," he said.

Nicholls predicted this year's third favourite, ImperialCommander - cut to 10-1 (from 12) by Stan James on Wednesday - would be the biggest stumbling block to his winning a fifth Gold Cup, following See More Business (1999), Kauto Star in 2007 and last year, and Denman in 2008.

Such a feat would rank him as the most prolific trainer in the race's history, alongside the legendary Tom Dreaper, who landed with Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964-66) and Fort Leney (68).

Another victory for Kauto Star would see Clive Smith's chaser join Cottage Rake, Arkle and Best Mate as the only horses to have won three Gold Cups.

Golden Miller won five (1932-36), but at a time when the Gold Cup was a trial for the Grand National, and not the Blue Riband it is today

Major shake-up in Triumph Hurdle market

THERE was a major shake-up in the JCB Triumph Hurdle market on Saturday after ante-post favourite Mille Chief was all but ruled out of the race, while the Nicky Henderson-trained Soldatino impressed in the Racingpost.com Adonis Hurdle at Kempton.

Mille Chief, as short as 4-1 to win the Triumph on Saturday morning, had been set to advertise his Cheltenham credentials in the Adonis, but was found to be lame on Friday and trainer Alan King advised punters "not to back him" for the Festival.


In Mille Chief's absence, Soldatino strolled to a seven-length success in the Grade 2 and was cut to 14-1 (from 40) with Blue Square. Paddy Power, who suspended then re-opened their Triumph market on Saturday, offered 16s (from 40).



The Irish Triumph challenge is particularly strong this year and, despite Pittoni's defeat at Navan, a trio of raiders were trimmed for the race.

Alaivan was promoted to favouritism and is 4-1 (from 6) with Victor Chandler, Carlito Brigante is into 11-2 (from 7) with the same firm, who also clipped Secant Star a point to 6-1.

Advisor, trained by Paul Nicholls, is 10-1 (from 12) with Boylesports.

Fitness doubts and a big-race Saturday win were also responsible for a couple of moves in the RSA Chase.

Noel Meade rated Pandorama as "very doubtful" for the race so Weapon's Amnesty, who ran the seven-year-old to a short head at Leopardstown in December, was made a 10-1 chance (from 12) with Paddy Power.

That layer also went shortest - 12-1 from 25 - about The Nightingale who ran out a comfortable winner of the Grade 2 Racing Post Weekender Pendil Novices' Chase at Kempton.

Blue Square and Victor Chandler went 14-1 (from 25), while Stan James offered that price from 33.

RSA duo 'best chasers I've trained' - Henderson


NICKY HENDERSON awarded Long Run and Punchestowns the ultimate accolade on Monday when declaring that in more than 30 years as a trainer he has never had two better chasers.

A complication for punters arises however because the pair will compete in the same race at the Cheltenham Festival, the RSA Chase, on March 17.

No present-day trainer comes anywhere near to Henderson's achievement of 34 winners at the Festival, and this time he will be unleashing his biggest ever raid on the meeting with around 35 runners.

Parading Long Run and Punchestowns at his yard in Lambourn, the trainer said: "They are two incredibly talented horses. I would say they are as good as I've had when it comes to chasers and they have the potential to go right to the top. My duty is to keep them in one piece and get them to where they want to be in two years time."

He confirmed that Zaynar will be equipped with cheekpieces in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle for the first time since he won last year's JCB Triumph Hurdle. However, the trainer did issue a warning for punters regarding the grey who is a top-priced 8-1 for the hurdling title.

He said: "It must be remembered that Zaynar is a stayer and last year he won the Triumph on the new course at Cheltenham, which offers a stiffer test of stamina than the old course he'll be running over on this occasion."

Henderson is 7-2 with Blue Square to be leading trainer at the meeting. He is 6-4 with Paddy Power to win the RSA Chase.

McCoy to ride Forpady in Champion Chase

TONY McCOY will ride Forpadydeplasterer in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The booking of the champion jockey, who won the 2m event on Edredon Bleu ten years ago, was confirmed on Monday morning by trainer Thomas Cooper, who reported Forpadydeplasteter to be "A1 " after his schooling session after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Cooper said: "The horse seems perfect this morning and I was delighted with theway he jumped yesterday on sticky ground, which he doesn't like.

"Tony rode him to finish second in the Tingle Creek in December, so we're very happy to have him again."

Barry Geraghty, who rode Forpadydeplasterer to victory in the Irish Independent Arkle Trophy a year ago, rode the eight-year-old at Leopardstown on Sunday, but is line for the ride on Petit Robin or Big Zeb in the Cheltenham race on March 17.

Cooper, who has trainedtwo winners at the festival, will also be represented by Son Amix, a 28-length winner of a maiden hurdle at Navan on Saturday, in either the JCB Triumph Hurdle, for which he's a16-1 shot, or the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Hurdle, while Total Excitement is under consideration for the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Hurdle.

Mille Chief ruled out of Triumph Hurdle

MILLE CHIEF, long-term ante-post favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, has been ruled out of the race by trainer Alan King.

Impressive victories at Kempton and Huntingdon had propelled Mille Chief to the top of the juveniles' championship market, but a setback, first revealed on Saturday, had cast serious doubt about his participation at Cheltenham.

King said on his website: "Mille Chief is getting better and we can see improvement, but we have basically run out of time to make the Triumph.

"You can't go half-cocked to Cheltenham - even 90 per cent is not good enough. But I remain very hopeful that we will be able to get him ready in time for Aintree and Punchestown.

"Mille Chief is a very good horse and I still have a lot of faith in him, and I am not prepared to take any risks and feel it best we make an early decision so as to keep the betting public fully informed.

"He'll miss Cheltenham and we'll monitor the situation, but I'd be optimistic we'll make Liverpool."

Starluck set for Festival prep at Kempton

KEMPTON'S all-weather Polytrack will be far from an alien world for Starluck, a top-priced 16-1 for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle, when he takes a step closer to the Festival under top weight in a 1m handicap on Wednesday.

His racing career was launched on a similar surface at Dundalk, where as a three-year-old owned by Lady O'Reilly and trained by Kevin Prendergast he had form figures of 1224.



Now racing for Andrew Wates and under the care ofAlan Fleming, Starluck returns to the surface for the Digibet Casino Handicap off a BHA mark of 92. It will be his first run on the Flat since the summer of 2008, when he finished fifth in a Leopardstown handicap over 1m4f.

Fleming said on Tuesday that he had no regrets about taking this less conventional route to the Festival rather than risking the 161-rated hurdler on unsuitably soft jumping ground this close to Cheltenham.

The trainer had the option of running Starluck against title-holder Punjabi at Kempton last weekend, but is pleased he resisted that temptation. "That ground looked far from ideal for him, the runners were finishing very tired," he said.

Asked what he was expecting of Starluck under Liam Keniry, Fleming added: "I'd love to see him travelling easily and getting a good blow. Of course, a mile is on the short side, but he has plenty of speed and the opposition looks quite exposed.