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With all this talk of Denman and Kauto Star it’s worthwhile remembering that they are aren’t even the best horses in the country.
Step up Master Minded – can’t wait to see him back in action.
With all this talk of Denman and Kauto Star it’s worthwhile remembering that they are aren’t even the best horses in the country.
Very much a matter of a opinion.
Hello,
Agreed M.M. did quite well last year, but prior to his good season of last year, his French form was average, and he could possibly return to that form.
Also, his Aintree run sticks in my mind, not that one of a superstar. Ok, the jockey and trainer took the blame for that performance, but I really need to see more next season for him to join, what I consider, the "greats"
But definitely a promising individual, so I ain’t knocking him..
regards,
doyley
Master Minded’s Festival romp was the best performance by any National Hunt star last season.
To comprehensively defeat the defending champion by 19L is quite remarkable. Even more so when you consider he was only a 5YO.
It was a very taking performance, beating a reigning champion and former Arkle winner. VPU has only finished outside the first three on 4 of his 26 starts. A consistent and classy performer.
I do believe that many went OTT with their appraisal, however. Even Richard Dunwoody, prior to his Aintree outing, described him as ‘the best he’d ever seen’.
In the Game Spirit, MM defeated VPU by 5L. The winning margin could have been greater that day, but at level weights and around a course he clearly enjoys, I thought Alan King’s horse would’ve been closer at Cheltenham.
I would conclude that the winning margin at The Festival was slightly exaggerated. VPU clearly didn’t run up to his best.
However, Master Minded should improve further this season and will be very hard to beat. He could, I emphasize could, be the greatest two mile chaser we’ve ever seen.
He’ll be a very warm favourite to complete the double in 2009 and, all being well, he will go for a hat-trick in 2010 as a mere 7YO.
How far can he go?
That wouldn’t suprise me if he did Marsh.
Keeping in mind Paul Nichols said he was brilliant before he hit the big time his peformance in the QMCC was probaly every bit as good as it looked.
I just can’t believe this talk about him being the best horse in training.
Irrespective of how good he looked he has beaten nothing IMO.
At Aintree he looked decidedly ordinary and it wasn’t just the trip. He was beaten the minute he jumped the third last and that’s a long way from home.
He may have been over the top, there was definately more to it than the trip
and he never showed the fight you expect from real champions.I think you have had a rush of blood to the head Corm and Co and should think again.
MM beat the worst previous winner of the QMCC I can remember then runs like a mule at Aintree. If you regard the QMCC as a better performace that Kauto Star’s King George then I suggest you are either very bad judges or you should take up betting on sailing as it’s much slower and easier to spot the top dogs.
The truth is Master Minded has yet to take on a real top horse and until he does you me and everyone else should reserve judgement. Sure he looked awesome at Cheltenham but that is easy to do when the opposition stinks.
The only reason he came out as top rated is because the rating were rubbish ibn the first place and made no allowances for a horse like MM to come along. They left themselves in such a position that without dropping every 2 mile chaser in the country they had to put Master Minded out on a pedastal. His rating does not mke him a better horse than Kauto or Denman and it is bordering on insanity to say it does.
He has won a couple of races against a horse who is no world beater whereas Denman has won race after race against seasoned campaigners and beat Kauto Star thought by many as the best since Arkle. Kauto himself destroyed a field of very decent chasers in the King George and did it in such an impressive way 80% of the racing community were certain even Denmn couldn’t lower his colours in the blue ribband of chasing.
There is a mile of difference between what Kauto Star and Denman have achieved in comparison to what Master minded has done.
Absolute nuts to call him the best horse in training at this stage of his career.
VPU clearly isn’t one of the best 2-milers that we’ve seen but take away MM and he’d have won the Queen Mother by 16L so that was a seriously impressive performance by the Nicholls horse no matter what angle you look at it from.
Obviously he’s got to follow it up (Hawk Wing couldn’t after a similarly freakish performance in the Lockinge) but PN is saying that he looks fantastic so I’m confident that he can and maybe improve further as well.
I thought Binocular was the best horse in the country ?
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Masterminded is pure class. Cant wait to see him demolish all that challenge his authority this season.
Having met Phil Smith, I can tell you that Master Minded is the top-rated horse in the country on a line through… Fair Along. ‘Nuff said, I think.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a cracking prospect and I can’t wait to see him this term, but IMO he still has to prove himself the equal of Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Well Chief in their respective pomps.
For those who perhaps have not yet seen it, Master Minded’s Timeform essay is free to read on their site as an ‘essay of the week’
Thought some might be interested.
There is not much between Master, Kauto and Denman.
I am surprised Timeform did not rate Master Minded with a p or even big P in Chasers And Hurdlers. The thing about his Cheltenham performance was it’s ease. Winning on the bridle eased down, could have won by further. I see no reason to think Voy Por did not run to form, beating the rest very well. the time was also exceptional. For Fist to say Voy Por was the worst Champion winner is XXXXXX.O.K.he wasn’t the best by any means but Katabatic etc.
Where Fist has a point is what happened when MM jumped that fence, he did weaken dramatically, not really as if not staying the trip, more like injury. May be Timeform have left the p off his rating because they think there is a possibility MM will not be able to run as well again (through injury). Will be interesting to see if they take it off Denman too. I would not critercise anyone for thinking Kauto, Denman or Master was the best at this stage. Denman and MM should (if fit) both improve this season. They are the best looking horses I’ve seen. But right now, I’d have Kauto Star best with Master Minded next and Denman third. The latter pair both with "p’s" as I expect, if fit they will improve past Kauto Star this season.I am slightly concerned about Master Minded’s temperament as I noticed in both the Game Spirit and Champion he was kept wide of his rivals. I just wonder whether there is just a chance, if crowded, he might make mistakes or even (dare I say it) pack it in. It was after all when Voy Por jumped up alongside that MM weakened. But that is just a slight possibility.
I do hope if the two miler is not capable of great things this term (through injury) people do not knock his Champion Chase. As I hope the same will go for Denman if his heart problem persists. Don’t rule out Neptunes Collonges making further improvement either, I’ve backed him for the Gold Cup.
Mark
Value Is EverythingNever mind Kauto and Denman –
The best chaser in racing is back!
Hmmm. Better but lets face it Fix The Rib is a handicapper, Mahogany Blaze is average at best and Vor Por has gone.
MM has never been the best chaser in training. Encouraging though no doubt.
Ruby’s balance, incredible.
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