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Well if that is 100% gospel and there is absolutly no reason to doubt the man, then I think he’s beeing very diplomatic and preparing the owners for the worst news…………..Ruby doesn’t want to ride your friggin horse he’s useless
I suppose you would have to bet Master Minded now as he will proabaly win no matter what the ground. PN hasn’t even said he would talk to Ruby or talk to the owners he’s staing the fact Ruby want’s to ride the young horse IMO
Wonder what price he will be if PN says he’s improved another 7lbs the day before the race……….be backed off the boards probably.
After twist magics defeat at ascot, nicholls quoted ruby as saying " he’ll win the QM with decent ground". I dont believe he would make this statement if he thought there was another horse at home in nicholls yard who could get close to him. so after MM win at the weekend, it makes TM all the more appealing
Congrats to BW, GT and Co on getting the value on Mastermind.
I tend to agree with a previous poster that VPU is going to be tough to beat come March.
I think the way MM won the game spirit was a bit misleading. I am not saying he nicked the race, he was superior on the day, but he did have it easy up front.
I also think VPU was not fully wound up: I know that is often an excuse which is made when good horses get beaten, but I feel that March is all that matters for VPU.
As a proven course and distance winner in the toughest tests I think he is still the one to beat.
Yes, either of P Nicholls duo could win, but at the prices I would rather back VPU each way. Very solid.
Zip
My only concern with Master Minded is the slight jumping to the right which really can be accentuated at Cheltenham, especially in quick races like the QM
Otherwise i think this looks like a horse on a rapid upward curve…
why was he weakish in the market though?
I think prior to MMs win on saturday, it was pretty inconcievable to many that a 5yo could win the Champ Chase, it was the heavy market support that first suggested that the horse was thought to be up to champ chase standard, nicholls ahd been working with the horse that week, and it was after that the gamble started, it is worth noting that he was backed antepost like Voy Por Ustedes wasnt beating him on saturday, and is getting backed heavily since, despite a common opinion that vlaue may lie elsewhere.#
Voy Por Ustedes physically looked at his best on saturday, was beaten in what looked a very good race, by a better horse. I think it is the fact that he has won at cheltenham twice now that makes people think he’ll do a third, but monets garden is optimally tripped at 2m4f, and as for Dempsey and River City, they arent in the same league as MM, who looked like a solid champ chaser on saturday, and will be hard to beat if getting there in that sort of form.
Master Minded jumping slightly right-handed has to be a bit of a worry. I think Tamarinbleu has been somewhat overlooked, if the going is on the soft side of good. Though I expect him to run in the Ryanair if good so can not have a saver yet.
Value Is EverythingMasterminded has been pulled out of the ryanair, wasnt declared at the declaration stage on tuesday.
Masterminded has been pulled out of the ryanair, wasnt declared at the declaration stage on tuesday.
Was talking about Tamarinbleu Bulwark.
Value Is EverythingCant help but get more excited about Master Minded every day, if he has genuinely improved this article suggests, and it is entirely possible he has through only having two proper runs this season then I cant wait to see him at cheltenham. Champ Chase is turning into my favorite race this year.-
MASTER MINDED, who rocketed into favouritism with some bookmakers for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase following his victory at Newbury this month, is reported to have made even more progress at home.
Punters were nibbling at the ex-Frenchgelding in the days before he reappeared in the Game Spirit Chase amid news trainer Paul Nicholls had seen a staggering amount of improvement after his victory in a Sandown handicap.
Master Minded’s emphatic defeat of current Champion Chase holder VoyPor Ustedes sees him dispute the head of the market with stablemate Twist Magic, the Tingle Creek winner.
"He won really well at Newbury and had been doing some sensational work at home," said Nicholls.
"For a five-year-old, it was brilliant. I know he was getting 6lb from Voy Por Ustedes but I don’t think that made any difference.
"I think he’s possibly improved since then – certainly the guys who ride him out have been absolutely thrilled."
Ruby Walsh is expected to partner Master Minded with Sam Thomas aboard Twist Magic, who flopped in testing conditions at Ascot last time."I should not have run him that day – I won’t be doing that again," said Nicholls.
"I have always thought he was a spring horse and the Champion will really suit him.
"He really needs good ground and they will go a good gallop, especially if Tamarinbleu and Fair Along run.
"I think Master Minded will be put away after the race as he’s so young, while Twist Magic could possibly go to the Punchestown Festival on the Tuesday and then run again at Sandown on the Saturday."
Reflecting on jockey bookings, Nicholls said: "Both Sam and Ruby have ridden them both.
"It is highly likely Ruby will ride Master Minded, although nothing is set in stone."
I do fancy the horse but the thought remains…..How fit was MM according to PN he aas 110% bang on…readu to go to Cheltenham he sais……how fit was Vor? you would have to think he was a carrying some condition for the trainer to work on to get him Cherry Ripe for Chetelrs.
Until Ruby says he is 100% going to the the horse I couldn’t bet him….I think they are both very good and want to leave the decision to which one is best to Ruby who is sure to get it right IMO
Well, paddock inspection suggested if either of the horses were not quite ready it was Master Minded.
There is not a lot of Voy Por whereas Master Minded is well-muscled.
Certainly Master Minded looks to have a deal more scope but Voy Por has got the wins at Cheltenham in the book, whereas the young pretender has it all to prove.
Colin
I’ve been throwing this race round in my head since Saturday when Binocular won. It’s been a case of will I or won’t I. but as it’s the bookies money why not?
I decided to watch Master Minded again and despite him being only 5 he looks the perfect race horse to me. I truly can’t see anything including Twist Magig beating him.
I now think he is probably one of the safest bets at the festival as everyone is saying, except hedgy PN, that Ruby definately rides him.
So I stuck every damn penny I won on Binocular smack on his 5 year old nose at 11/4 and will now going to get rat arsed drunk to further convince myself I have done the right thing
Only wish I had listened to Bulwark in the first place
Can not see why you are so confident about Master Minded Fist, hope you are right. Everything has to be black or white. The front four in the betting are closely matched on form. VPU and MM come out roughly the same horse on Newbury form, but MM deserves to be fav as he is the improver. At todays prices I would say the value is Tamarinbleu NRNB.
Value Is EverythingHad a few but here goes anyway Ginge.
Looking back at the Game Spirit 90% of young horses would not be asked to take on VPU a QMCC winner in the fashion Master Minded was.
Ruby must have had tremendous confidence in him to take him to the front so early.
Ruby would be fuly aware that doing so would be falling right into VPU’s hands.
I think I am right in saying about every time VPU has won he has come from just off the pace and hit the front somewhere between the last 3 fences.
Ruby is on a young 5 year old horse who has not only jumped better than a QMCC winer but he has also showed more speed away from his fences and produced a better turn of foot when it mattered most.
At know stage of the race has he even looked like making a mistake and he has done everything right on que when ruby has asked him.
The one little glitch in his perforamace was he did Idle slightly but he looked to me that he still had plenty in the tank had VPU been able to muster any sort of challenge.
You could point out that he was recieving 6 lbs but there is no way on God’s earth would that have changed the result.
They can make all the excuses they like for VPU, say he wasn’t 100% or whatever. The truth is you don’t send half fit horses for the Game Spirit there is no need. Like PN’s horse there is plenty time between the two races to let a horse down a bit the work back up to have him spot on for Cheltenham.
Master Minded has defeated the horse fair and square plus he has done it the hard way. If any of them is going to improve by any great amount expereiece tells me it is most certainly going to be the young horse.
With a few pounds improvement (if he even needs that) I would say he is nailed on to become the first 5 year old in history to win the race. I think VPU will need a near miracle to beat this horse.
Despite what PN has said the only way Ruby won’t ride this horse is if the drag him off it or something goes wrong between now and March 12th.
Footnote.
I can’t remember many trainers if any who were in a postion where there is a very good chance they are likely to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase, The Gold Cup,The Arkle and possibly The RSA all in one season.
Would love to see it happen.At todays prices I would say the value is Tamarinbleu NRNB.
I would agree with you there Ginger, if I can get 7/1 NRNB I will have a small investment.
I am probably Voy Por Ustedes greatest fan, he has been a very profitable Cheltenham banker for me the last two years. However I can never allow emotion to get in the way of betting and I just cannot back him on what he has done so far this season, certainly at 4/1 – my heart hopes he wins but my head and wallet says he won’t.
Of the main contenders I’m afraid I just cannot trust Twist Magic.
Master Minded dis beat VPU fair and square and was the better horse on the day. Is he an 11/4 shot for the Champion Chase? I think not, I would want around 4’s.
Don’t get me wrong Paul / Fist, I still think MM is a bit of value at 11/4. I would say he has a true 29 to 31% (5/2 to 9/4) chance. Twist Magic 22 or 23% (7/2 or 100/30). Tamarinbleu 18 to 20% (9/2 to 4/1), Voy Por Ustedes 15 to 16% (11/2), with the others together 11 to 15% (8/1 to 11/2).
Value Is Everything
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