Tingle Creek Chase: The Timeform view

Events / Tony Calvin / 05 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

Halifax-based ratings organisation have Master Minded 19lb clear of Arkle winner Tidal Bay.

The date: March 13th, 2008.

The time: 2.30pm.

The place: The Cheltenham winners' enclosure.

The disbelief: On everyone's face.

So who would have thought that just nine months after Master Minded's 19 length Champion Chase win - a performance that left those present at Cheltenham convinced they had just witnessed, at the very least, the most visually stunning performance of their lifetime - that he would be available at over [1.6] on Betfair to see off six rivals who aren't fit to shine his golden hooves off level weights over 2m?

Timeform were certainly not getting as carried away as some over the Cheltenham performance. They rate Master Minded on 179, whereas the official handicapper has the horse on 186, the best horse in training, ahead of his more illustrious stablemates Denman and Kauto Star.

But, even so, the Halifax-based ratings organisation have him 19lb clear of Arkle winner Tidal Bay for tomorrow's Seasons Holidays Tingle Creek Chase.

So why the opposition to the horse on Betfair?

Timeform spokesman Kieran Packman commented: "When winning the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, Master Minded posted a performance that put him head and shoulders above the 2m chasers of the last three years and suggested he'll dominate the division for seasons to come.

"Of course, he was subsequently defeated at Aintree over further, but it's worth remembering that he was the first 5-y-o to win the Champion Chase in its 49-year history and the prospect of improvement this term is very exciting.

"He stands out on ratings for Saturday's race, as he's 19lb ahead of Tidal Bay even though the latter is, in our opinion, the most likely of the current crop of up-and-coming chasers to trouble the Nicholls-trained big guns this season."

Timeform adjusted ratings for Tingle Creek

Master Minded 193
Tidal Bay 174p
Twist Magic 171
L'Antartique 166
Takeroc 162p
Mahogany Blaze 161
FiepesShuffle 160