The seven-year-old has been almost been unbeatable over 16 furlongs over the last couple of years and could yet again give jockey Ruby Walsh another big race success.
After a defeat at Cheltenham in November, it emerged the gelding had suffered a rib injury and was given a break by Nicholls. On his return the Clive Smith-owned gelding was cruising coming to the last and made a shocking error but Walsh kept the partnership intact and managed to coast home in front of a decent field.
It showed the reigning champ was back to his best and bar the mistake was imperious throughout and it is going to take an almighty shock to dethrone one of the greatest chasers of all time.
Kalahari King (13/2 William Hill) was mightily impressive when winning the Blue Square Handicap Chase off top weight and could be the one to take on Master Minded. Ferdy Murphy’s nine-year-old finished second behind Forpadydeplasterer in last season’s Arkle and could definitely mark a bit of each way value.
Twist Magic (7/1 William Hill) has always been the bridesmaid to Master Minded in the Nicholls stable. Although the eight-year-old has seemed to improve this season and was an emphatic winner of the Victor Chandler Chase beating some decent horses in Petit Robin (16/1 various firms) and Well Chief (33/1 various firms).
Nevertheless, I fully expect his stablemate to outgun him again and Twist Magic may have to settle for minor honours.
The Irish have an interesting contender in Big Zeb (8/1 Bet365, Blue Square) who very nearly beat Master Minded at the Punchestown Festival last season. Big Zeb was running all over Master Minded but a last fence blunder handed the race to the dual Champion Chase winner. However, if the Colm Murphy-trained nine-year-old can sort out his jumping he will definitely be thereabouts at the business end of the contest.
Golden Silver (33/1 various firms) is a horse I like a lot at a bigger price for Willie Mullins. He was a convincing winner of the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase in December and finished second behind Big Zeb last time out and he could quite possibly make the frame if some of the fancied horses fall by the wayside.
Of the other contenders you have to give Well Chief (33/1 various firms) a sneak.
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