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Paul Nicholls: The Master returns!

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Master Minded makes his seasonal debut at Aintree on Saturday ahead of a campaign that could bring major prizes, including a King George win and further Cheltenham glory

Timeform called his Melling Chase win in April "imperious" and went on to say the "King George will doubtless be a hard one for connections to resist, though regaining his Champion Chase crown after two defeats in that race will no less meritorious."

No arguments from me on the "imperious" comment - his Aintree win was one of the highlights of my season - but perhaps there is no reason why he cannot take in both the King George and Champion Chase this season, or maybe even the Ryanair at the Festival.

The ground will dictate a lot on that score, but he clearly remains highly effective from 2m-2m4f.

And, after all, who knows how his season will pan out? But let us get today's race out of the way before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

Master Minded, as we have said so many times in the past, continues to be a victim of that mesmerising 2008 Champion Chase win. And that is the last time I am ever going to say that!

But despite six subsequent Grade 1 wins over 2m, many, as laughable as it would seem, believed he was firmly on the downslope, never to reach the peak again.

So that is why I was so pleased with his Melling win. After his disappointing Cheltenham performance, that sauntering nine length defeat of Albertas Run re-affirmed my belief that the horse is of the highest class and opened up new avenues for him, namely 3m and a crack at Long Run in the King George.

And his work leading up to this race has been very smooth. He did a great piece of work with Woolcombe Folly on Thursday but he will improve enormously for the run. Obviously, you are not going to have a horse like him at his peak in October.

I have done a bit of a U-turn with him because the original plan was to run Tataniano here, and Master Minded at Ascot next month.

But I didn't think Tataniano was fit enough to tackle 2m4f for the first time, hence the switch to 2m at Chepstow for him and Master Minded coming here.

People may think that means Master Minded is maybe a bit short considering we were aiming him for a race three weeks down the line. But the change of plan may be in our favour because he was actually coming to hand so quickly I was thinking of taking a pull and giving him an easy fortnight.

Giving lumps of weight away is never ideal, as Master Minded does here, and we clearly have no easy task first time up giving 10lb to Albertas Run, a dual Ryanair winner.

But we gave him an easy nine length beating at Aintree and had him in trouble when he fell three out at Ascot back in November. And whereas Master Minded goes well fresh, Albertas Run has appeared to need the run in the past on occasions, though he can be excused some below par reappearance efforts (including in this race last year) because of soft ground.

I suppose it is in the back of my mind that Kauto Star appeared to run one of his lesser races first time out in 2007 (although failing by only 1 ½ lengths to give Monet's Garden 14lb, with Exotic Dancer 20 lengths away in third, doesn't look that poor in hindsight) and Master Minded has bigger targets down the line. But it looks a good starting point - Kauto also won this race in 2006 before winning the Betfair Million - and I have made no secret that I have backed Master Minded at 7-1 for Kempton. He is officially rated just 4lb behind Long Run, after all, and I hope today goes smoothly and without mishap.

That said, defeat to a horse of Albertas Run class at these weights wouldn't be a disaster, as Kauto showed in 2007.

----------------------------------------

Fancy a Paul Nicholls fleece to keep you warm this winter? Well just follow @BetfairRacing on twitter before midnight on Sunday 23rd and you'll be in the draw to win one of four fleeces. @BetfairRacing on Twitter brings you the latest news, promotions and betting advice straight from the Betfair Racing team.

Paul Nicholls / 21 Oct 2011

Paul Nicholls: The Master returns!

Weekend Runners RSS / / 21 October 2011 /

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Master Minded on his way to that Melling Chase victory

Master Minded on his way to that Melling Chase victory

"Master Minded's Aintree win was one of the highlights of my season – but perhaps there is no reason why he cannot take in both the King George and Champion Chase this season, or maybe even the Ryanair at the Festival."

Master Minded makes his seasonal debut at Aintree on Saturday ahead of a campaign that could bring major prizes, including a King George win and further Cheltenham glory

Timeform called his Melling Chase win in April "imperious" and went on to say the "King George will doubtless be a hard one for connections to resist, though regaining his Champion Chase crown after two defeats in that race will no less meritorious."

No arguments from me on the "imperious" comment - his Aintree win was one of the highlights of my season - but perhaps there is no reason why he cannot take in both the King George and Champion Chase this season, or maybe even the Ryanair at the Festival.

The ground will dictate a lot on that score, but he clearly remains highly effective from 2m-2m4f.

And, after all, who knows how his season will pan out? But let us get today's race out of the way before we get too far ahead of ourselves.

Master Minded, as we have said so many times in the past, continues to be a victim of that mesmerising 2008 Champion Chase win. And that is the last time I am ever going to say that!

But despite six subsequent Grade 1 wins over 2m, many, as laughable as it would seem, believed he was firmly on the downslope, never to reach the peak again.

So that is why I was so pleased with his Melling win. After his disappointing Cheltenham performance, that sauntering nine length defeat of Albertas Run re-affirmed my belief that the horse is of the highest class and opened up new avenues for him, namely 3m and a crack at Long Run in the King George.

And his work leading up to this race has been very smooth. He did a great piece of work with Woolcombe Folly on Thursday but he will improve enormously for the run. Obviously, you are not going to have a horse like him at his peak in October.

I have done a bit of a U-turn with him because the original plan was to run Tataniano here, and Master Minded at Ascot next month.

But I didn't think Tataniano was fit enough to tackle 2m4f for the first time, hence the switch to 2m at Chepstow for him and Master Minded coming here.

People may think that means Master Minded is maybe a bit short considering we were aiming him for a race three weeks down the line. But the change of plan may be in our favour because he was actually coming to hand so quickly I was thinking of taking a pull and giving him an easy fortnight.

Giving lumps of weight away is never ideal, as Master Minded does here, and we clearly have no easy task first time up giving 10lb to Albertas Run, a dual Ryanair winner.

But we gave him an easy nine length beating at Aintree and had him in trouble when he fell three out at Ascot back in November. And whereas Master Minded goes well fresh, Albertas Run has appeared to need the run in the past on occasions, though he can be excused some below par reappearance efforts (including in this race last year) because of soft ground.

I suppose it is in the back of my mind that Kauto Star appeared to run one of his lesser races first time out in 2007 (although failing by only 1 ½ lengths to give Monet's Garden 14lb, with Exotic Dancer 20 lengths away in third, doesn't look that poor in hindsight) and Master Minded has bigger targets down the line. But it looks a good starting point - Kauto also won this race in 2006 before winning the Betfair Million - and I have made no secret that I have backed Master Minded at 7-1 for Kempton. He is officially rated just 4lb behind Long Run, after all, and I hope today goes smoothly and without mishap.

That said, defeat to a horse of Albertas Run class at these weights wouldn't be a disaster, as Kauto showed in 2007.

----------------------------------------

Fancy a Paul Nicholls fleece to keep you warm this winter? Well just follow @BetfairRacing on twitter before midnight on Sunday 23rd and you'll be in the draw to win one of four fleeces. @BetfairRacing on Twitter brings you the latest news, promotions and betting advice straight from the Betfair Racing team.

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