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10 declared to run, Master Minded and Twist Magic amongst the entries, as well as Somersby and a seasonal re-appearance for Petit Robin.
Weather forecase for Sandown looks a little cold to say the least, so the race may not be on.
If Sandown is abandoned on Saturday, then the race will be ran at Cheltenham the following week, which would make a huge difference to a horse like Twist Magic, who would have every chance going around Sandown, but just cannot have the horse at Cheltenham.
Couldn’t they move the entire card somewhere on Saturday, if the decision were made early enough? Let’s get some jumping on!
Another days racing at Newbury?
They did such a good job of the Festival.Value Is Everythingin 4 head to heads, Twist Magic has failed to beat Master Minded.
Using Forpady as a line of form, Gauvain, who has also got some Sandown winning form (Kingmaker 2009), must rate as serious chance.
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They could,at least, explore the possibility of running it on Sunday, and at its proper venue.
The weather is forecast to improve some this weekend, and – strictly on the pictures I saw from nearby Kempton today – it wouldn’t need all that much to turn it round.
Surely a good quality Sunday meeting would do more for racing than tacking it onto an already good card, and with the option to revert to plan if the thaw fails to arrive?Master Minded @ Evens seems HUGE.
Fill your boots.
Also Stick in the Colts and Chargers to win their NFL divisions – 5/6 and 4/6
well gotta be masterminded now gone to cheltenham , maybe a nicholls double with robinson collognes in december cup
The form Master Minded showed at Ascot makes it very hard not choose him – irrespective of venue.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Like the look of Somersby for this. He has good form at the festival and rarely fails to run his race. Gauvain was impressive last time but Forpadydeplasterer was a sitting duck having gone toe to toe with Tataniano from a long way out. Twist Magic hasn’t puked in all his recent Cheltenham runs while Kalahari King has something to prove. I fancied his chances in the Champion Chase last year but he could never really land a blow. Imo Petit Robin isn’t good enough simple as.
If any horse is going to beat Master Minded imo it’s Somersby.
Like the look of Somersby for this. He has good form at the festival and rarely fails to run his race. Gauvain was impressive last time but Forpadydeplasterer was a sitting duck having gone toe to toe with Tataniano from a long way out. Twist Magic hasn’t puked in all his recent Cheltenham runs while Kalahari King has something to prove. I fancied his chances in the Champion Chase last year but he could never really land a blow. Imo Petit Robin isn’t good enough simple as.
If any horse is going to beat Master Minded imo it’s Somersby.
It would be nice to see Somersby take a big race like this.
Twist Magic won’t be running on Saturday, he will be going for the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon on Sunday.
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Somersby hadn’t the speed to win an Arkle, so he’s unlikely to beat the fastest 2 miler we’ve seen in a long time.
Surprised Twist Magic goes for the Peterborough though, even with a stone in hand, he seems unlikely to last home that easy 2m 4f.This race would have been far more interesting around Sandown, where the likes of Twist Magic would have been dangerous, but well done to all concerned for saving one this great race.
Master Minded rewarded those who kept the faith with a splendid display on his seasonal bow in the Amlin Chase. The old sparkle was there – electric jumping and enthusiastic – and it would take a very brave man to say that he was a spent force after that performance.
I’m not convinced that he actually wants further than two miles and find talk of him winning a King George slightly optimistic.
He’s the stereotypical two mile chaser – fast and fluent over his obstacles and on the ground.
I took 5/1 for the Champion Chase before Ascot anticipating a big performance, but it wouldn’t be the biggest shock if he were to lose tomorrow. I think he’s a horse who needs plenty of time between his races these days, not so much for physical reasons, but mental. His enthusiasm is paramount to his chances in a race and it pays a pivotal roll in the way he travels and jumps.
A fine example of this was his devastating performance when landing a second Game Spirit by 13L, despite an almighty blunder at the last, after a three month enforced absence. He travelled with real zest that day, and the race was over a long way out. After turning in upsides, Master Minded quickly put a dozen lengths between himslef and the remainder without breaking sweat.
I would expect, win or lose, for Master Minded to go straight to Cheltenham after this. If he goes to Newbury, I think it would be detrimental to his chances at The Festival and expect Tataniano to head for the Game Spirit.
Twist Magic’s form figures at Prestbury Park are uninspiring, to say the least. He has suffered most from the switch of venues and it’s hard to see him landing a blow around around here.
He had Somersby behind him at Exeter on his seasonal return, but the mountain he faces is highlighted by the fact that the Henrietta Knight-trained horse is expected by many to reverse the form, despite being in receipt of 17lb that day.
Somersby is a typical Henrietta Knight horse – big, strong and handsome. He finished as well as anything in the Arkle last year, when finding only Sizing Europe too good. That horse would go on to finish a respectable third behind his elders at Punchestown, with Kalahari King back in fourth.
The one worry is that Sizing Europe has since performed with credit over three miles and it has to be questioned if Somersby has the gears to trouble an outstanding talent like Master Minded.
His form gives him a solid chance of reaching a place, with more improvment expected, and this consistent sort has only finished outside the first three once in eleven starts. I’ve backed him at 8/1.
There was no fluke about Gauvain’s course and distance success in November. The form of that race is good, with a solid yardstick in second and a promising young talent back in third. That was his first run for Nick Williams after a nineteen month lay-off, so the bounce factor has to be taken into consideration, but he remains a very interesting contender.
Kalahari King, winner over two miles-four as a novice, has given every indication that he would prefer a step back up to that trip. He’s a horse that nees things to unfold in front of him and one would think this race would not be ideal, unlike the conditions of his brilliant success under a massive weight at Doncaster last February.
He’s a former Arkle runner-up and was third in the Champion Chase last season, so he can’t be underestimated, and he could reach a place.
Petit Robin, a former Champion Chase third, has been well supported this week. A glaring statistic is that his three wins in this country have all been on flat tracks and I’m not sure, unlike some in the field, that Cheltenham will suit as much as Sandown.
The remainder are all well held on form and need a miracle.
It wouldn’t be the biggest shock if Master Minded was beaten, but his Ascot return was flawless and he is the best horse in the field. Somersby is a model of consistency and has twice performed well here against top class opposition. He could prove better over further in time, but horses are finishing tired today and his reserves will be a great asset up the hill.
Master Minded was faultless last time out at Ascot and it’s hard to oppose him in the Tingle Creek. He is easily the best horse in the race and on his day he’s pretty much untouchable. It also makes me laugh the way these jokers say he may be "past his best" or "over the hill". Sort your lives out, he’s only 7 and should have a good few years in him yet. A total superstar !!!!!!
I was going to write a detailed post supporting the chances of the unexposed
Somersby
but as per usual Bosranic has eloquently put it down and i agree with his reasoning! 8/1 e/w equates to a better value bet than lumping on the exposed Master Minded at Evens imo!
Master Minded is "exposed" TAPK, exposed as a brilliant 2 mile chaser.
Tbh, I expected to back against him today, but at Evens, think he has a better chance of winning than losing. Made him the main bet. Though do like Somersby at 8’s. Travelled surprisingly well at Exeter before lack of fitness told. Had another part saver on Twist Magic. I know he’s got an awful Cheltenham record and probably won’t perform. But all those course runs have been at the Festival. Less people around and he might (only might) not get himself in such a state this time. At a double figure price I had to take a slither.
Four of my ante-post Festival bets run today, all favourites. Fingers crossed.
Value Is Everything
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