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Come on Ginge Master Minded has run some damn awful races in his time and if you back him you have to accept he could run a stinker.
I backed him last time for more than anyone would believe but not because I thought he was a good thing but because I knew he had absolutely nothing to beat.
That day was simply a case of if he stood up he won.
Today is a bit different although had this been 12 months ago he would be 1/3 to beat this field like he was at Punchestowns against Big Zeb.
He’s even with good reason. These horses today will be fit and raring to go unlike Alberta’s Run was last time.
With Somersby Kalahari King and Gauvain all well capable of beating a underperforming Master Minded 1/1 money is just about right.
I have backed him again but for less than 1/10th of what I had on last time because I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him.
Very hopeful is as good as it gets with Master Minded these days when he’s taking on horses of some ability.
1:55 Cheltenham
The thing so impressive about the wayMaster Minded
won at Ascot wasn’t the form shown – did not need to be at his best – was the way he travelled through the race. In his first race since a wind operation, travelled and jumped with all his old enthusiasm. I was at Newbury when he beat trees last season, but did not do it anywhere near as well as Ascot. Master Minded has thrown in some poor runs in the last year or so, but that was before the op’. Everything he did on reappearance suggests those problems are behind him. If so he can still run over a stone below his very best and still win easily. We know Master Minded goes well in the ground and at the course. Of course it is possible his old problems will resurface, which is why he is not a 1/3 chance, but with all the above I believe he has around a 55% chance. What has he got to beat?
Nick Williams did exceptionally well to get
Gauvain
back to win after a long lay off, but what did he beat? A dog, who would let a donkey past him on the run-in, rather than win a race (Forpaddytheplasterer). And one that is better on a sound surface (Tataniano). Form is suspect, although there might be improvement in him for his very much in form trainer. Hasn’t been the most hearty himself in the past.
I’ve saved on
Somersby
. Expected him to need further this term, but travelled much easier than I thought he would at Exeter, before lack of fitness told. Stable are yet to get going this season, but should come on an awful lot for the run. Good looking horse who will no doubt is capable of better.
Kalahari King
has some good runs to his name, particularly the Doncaster win. Likes Cheltenham and goes on the going. However, ran a stinker first time up and Ferdy is yet to get his string firing.
Petit Robin
is interesting, Nicky Henderson is in form, goes well at Cheltenham. But how far below form would Master Minded need to run for him to win? Got stuffed by MM in the Champion, without the winner being anywhere near top form.
I’m So Lucky
could show more improvement, has place prospects, but should not be in the same league as MM.
Mahogany Blaze
is deteriorating in both ability and jumping.
Oiseau De Nuit
is not good enough.
Kinkeel
I hope just keeps out the way of the others.
Value Is EverythingPN has always said that Master Minded is ‘difficult to train’ but I’ve never worked out what he means by that or what the problems with him are.
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He should have won by further off that pace, maybe that was an indication of a Gold Cup horse in the making.
The Victor Chandler is next.
I was worried about the horse going to Newbury, but Ascot (22/01/2011) will fit nicely into the programme.
The beast is back.
Master Minded is "exposed" TAPK, exposed as a brilliant 2 mile chase
Thats exactly what i meant Ginge,whereas we haven"t seen the best of Somersby yet and we wont over 2 miles!His time will come! Like i have stated in several other posts,very few horses have impacted on me like the REAL Master Minded!
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Wonderful.
I’d take him for the champion chase in that kinda form.
If Master Minded turns up at Cheltenham in rude health, Big Zeb and the others might as well stay at home.
Gambling Only Pays When You're Winning
Very impressive from Master Minded, but I for one believe Big Zeb and Captain Cee Bee would have done exactly the same thing to Petit Robin.
Game on now Ger
- Total Posts 17716
Very impressive from Master Minded, but I for one believe Big Zeb and Captain Cee Bee would have done exactly the same thing to Petit Robin.
Game on now Ger
They would have but they have gigantic question marks on their jumping. I wouldn’t want to be backing Big Zeb to jump Cheltenham clearly for a second time.
Very impressive from Master Minded, but I for one believe Big Zeb and Captain Cee Bee would have done exactly the same thing to Petit Robin.
Game on now Ger
Howya Cyril!
Should be a belter as such
Did what was expected really.
I don’t think he’s ever going to put up another performance like his first Champion Chase, but won’t need to. Big Zeb will be a greater danger and could still improve, but needs to.
If I were not on him already, I’d think about 2/1, but it would be only a saver bet. 16/1 Woolcombe Folly looks too big. I’ll leave it until nearer the time to get involved again.
Value Is EverythingI notice a couple of the runners in this are apparently off to Huntingdon tomorrow for the Peterborough Chase. Kalahari King is about 7-1. No sign of them being scratched. How is it possible to recover in time? I thought it took about 5 weeks to recover from a competitive chase.
I was incredibly impressed with MasterMinded today. He was jumping only 70% for me. I think he fiddled a few today compared to his normal extradinary leaping.
Delighted with that and i am for one believe this years Champion Chase will(2011 champion chase) be one of the most exciting and best renewals in decades
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I was incredibly impressed with MasterMinded today. He was jumping only 70% for me. I think he fiddled a few today compared to his normal extradinary leaping.
I’m still trying to work out what race you were watching; apart from edging to the right at the 7th, his jumping was absolutely flawless. Indeed, if, at any point this season, a horse makes a better shape over a fence than Master Minded did over either the first, second-last or last, I’ll be astounded.
It was the perfect follow-up to his Ascot rout and proof positive that he’s once again a force to be reckoned with. He’ll be better granted a stronger pace too, leaving Captain Cee Bee as the only horse capable of getting anywhere near him.
It was all very cosy this afternoon, with Lydia, Steve and then PN handing out the 2011 QM championship in December 2010. If there was any fly in the Master Minded ointment it could only possibly come from another Ditcheat inhabitant…with the Woolcombe Folly time in the 2m handicap being purred over…oh and let us not forget Tataniano and his stellar chances prompted PN.
Lets hope the current champion, Big Zeb, and the genuine contender Captain Cee Bee can summon the necessary courage to undertake what is apparently a pointless journey to Cheltenham in March.
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