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Master Minded is absolute top class. It would be good to have something that could challenge him to test how good he is but we’re in the midst of a great horse and should appreciate that in my opinion
Brilliant performance today by MM. The opposition wasn’t up to much but that doesn’t change the fact that it was an imperious performance.
He’s nailed on for the QMCC barring incident in March. Nothing we didn’t already know though!
Well, Master Mindeds next race is the Game Spirit according to Paul Nicholls, and he’ll meet Flipper there. Bearing in mind though that Master Minded has just thrashed Petit Robin by 16 lengths, and Flipper beat the same horse by 3/4 of a length, it looks like a foregone conclusion! We’ll be there trying our best as always though!
Darren – AngloGerman
________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
he might just freak him out and ruin his concentration like ‘when is that horse going to disappear onto the hurdles track and then reappear again!’…..c.mon Flipper!!!!
I’ve only been watching racing for 4 years but MM is the best jumper I have ever seen. His speed and the way he flies over his fences makes me think that he would not only beat Moscow Flyer, but would probably do so with 10 lengths in hand.
No disrespect to the great 2 milers of the past but can anyone put up a reasonable argument to beat this "machine"?
It would be nice though Fist for there to be a horse good enough for us to see just how good Master Minded is.
I’ve spent most of this evening watching the VC back, and I’ve been trying to spot any chinks in Master Mindeds armour. To be honest, I can’t really see anything, but I’m wondering if he’ll be able to burn off Flipper in the same way he burnt off Petit Robin and the rest today. OK, Flipper hasn’t got the class of Master Minded, but he’s a ‘speed horse’ as Nicky Henderson called him, so maybe he could give Master Minded something to think about.
Darren – AngloGerman
________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
I agree that the current crop of 2 milers arent great but I just have a feeling about MM. Cant really explain it but I do think we are watching one of the all time greats and possibly a horse who may eventually come close to Arkle
If he is so wonderful wouldn’t it be nice to see a quicker time? Or are they just rated on what they supposedly beat. I like the clock and until they pull out something special timewise i am unconvinced. I am hard to please and sceptical!
It would be nice though Fist for there to be a horse good enough for us to see just how good Master Minded is.
I’ve spent most of this evening watching the VC back, and I’ve been trying to spot any chinks in Master Mindeds armour. To be honest, I can’t really see anything, but I’m wondering if he’ll be able to burn off Flipper in the same way he burnt off Petit Robin and the rest today. OK, Flipper hasn’t got the class of Master Minded, but he’s a ‘speed horse’ as Nicky Henderson called him, so maybe he could give Master Minded something to think about.
Darren – AngloGerman
________________________________________‘The Hungarian’s going hell for leather’ – Jim McGrath
Darren,
I think if anyone is going to get Master Minded beaten then Flipper can. Now that may mean another horse winning the race because of Flipper but let me explain.
As you say, Flipper has a great deal of speed; capable of winning top class 2m races from the front, on firm going.
If you look at the way Master Minded is usually ridden. He is usually kept wide of the leader, wide of the tracking horses or makes the running. From what I remember when he made that bad mistake at Aintree Voy Por Ustedes was directly alongside. It is my belief that Master Minded jumps best when he has room. If Flipper gets close to him it might force him in to mistakes. Of course by doing this Flipper might make a mistake himself, with MM’s flamboyant jumping. Or you may have to go too fast, with a hold up horse coming through to win. But that is the chance you take.
Mark
Value Is EverythingHe took a lead until 4 out and then came away 16 lengths with out even being asked a question, who knows how far the margin would be if asked to extend. No horse it seems can lead him for that long as he is still on the bridle whilst most are making their efforts. He can only go as fast as the the race unfolds and bare time is not really worth anything it’s the collation of the time to speed figures under the class, weight and conditions that are important and even from then they are open to interpretation, my view would be simple whatever speed figure he has achieved today he can certainly improve upon. Ruby isn’t going to throw the kitchen sink at him when you have to take into account he may not be 100% yet with the Champion Chase being the target for his peak and the margin of victory with little effort is mind blowing. In the Tingle creek he showed his versatility being left in the front far earlier than AP intended yet still clocked in with a big time on his re-appearance with out ever being asked a question.
The novice chase earlier Panjo Bere was only 1.6 seconds slower than Master Minded but can anyone seriously say they think he would have finished anywhere near him? Of course not. The bare time means naff all, the amount of improvement i fear for any 2 mile chaser right now to get on terms with Master Minded is far from imaginable. It’s probably fair to say apart from Aintree over 2miles 4 when he made a mistake 2 out he hasn’t really put a foot wrong over a fence.
Master Minded is freaskish in his ability, travels like a dream, wings every fence and finds when asked for his effort and without being short sighted I can not see him being beaten any time soon. Fast ground is the only chink in his armoury, probably, but then that should not be a problem for the QMCC and then i doubt Paul Nicholls would risk him on fast ground otherwise. I fail to understand how anyone can not be impressed by this beast personally, but then it is of course all about opinion, I’m sure people can gather mine is a high one for what it’s worth
He took a lead until 4 out and then came away 16 lengths with out even being asked a question, who knows how far the margin would be if asked to extend. No horse it seems can lead him for that long as he is still on the bridle whilst most are making their efforts. He can only go as fast as the the race unfolds and bare time is not really worth anything it’s the collation of the time to speed figures under the class, weight and conditions that are important and even from then they are open to interpretation, my view would be simple whatever speed figure he has achieved today he can certainly improve upon. Ruby isn’t going to throw the kitchen sink at him when you have to take into account he may not be 100% yet with the Champion Chase being the target for his peak and the margin of victory with little effort is mind blowing. In the Tingle creek he showed his versatility being left in the front far earlier than AP intended yet still clocked in with a big time on his re-appearance with out ever being asked a question.
The novice chase earlier Panjo Bere was only 1.6 seconds slower than Master Minded but can anyone seriously say they think he would have finished anywhere near him? Of course not. The bare time means naff all, the amount of improvement i fear for any 2 mile chaser right now to get on terms with Master Minded is far from imaginable. It’s probably fair to say apart from Aintree over 2miles 4 when he made a mistake 2 out he hasn’t really put a foot wrong over a fence.
Master Minded is freaskish in his ability, travels like a dream, wings every fence and finds when asked for his effort and without being short sighted I can not see him being beaten any time soon. Fast ground is the only chink in his armoury, probably, but then that should not be a problem for the QMCC and then i doubt Paul Nicholls would risk him on fast ground otherwise. I fail to understand how anyone can not be impressed by this beast personally, but then it is of course all about opinion, I’m sure people can gather mine is a high one for what it’s worth
I agree with you about the merit of MM’s performance tb, and he is a very good jumper these days. But he is only young and is capable of making a mistake. Did fall on British debut at Exeter and was not always the best jumper in France, all be it with little experience at the time.
Mark
Value Is EverythingIt’s a fair point Mark that he is capable of mistakes if you go back far enough granted, but then so is every horse, on the evidence of his jumping thus far i believe he can only get better i mean he makes far less mistakes than Kauto Star and on his form in this country at least he’s only made the Aintree mistake. You have a view on his jumping to get upsides him and that may force mistakes and i respect that and time will tell, that’s if anything can get upsides him 2 out over 2 miles mind. I would simply put the Aintree mistake down as one of those things, no horse never makes a mistake.
Call me ignorant but i have.
Animals like us learn and he is in the hands of arguably the best NH trainer in the lands who’s job it is to make sure he jumps correctly and for my eye he’s learnt pretty damn fast
I could of course be horribly wrong admittedly and he may retain his jumping faults but in truth i don’t see it and only time will tell
Any top class 2m chaser has to jump so quickly that any slight mistake can end in disaster. Moscow Flyer, Azertyuiop and Well Chief have all ended up on the floor. Master Minded is normally a good jumper (kept wide / out on his own) but is only young / still learning.
Mark
Value Is EverythingNo horse was ever capable of getting to the bottom of Moscow Flyer over fences until he was well, well, past his best – not Well Chief, not Azertyuiop, nothing. Nobody knows how good he was. This fact seems to be so quickly forgotten.
Agree with Aiden – good winner, crap race. Fists – i didn’t really enjoy it any more than i’d enjoy watching Dayjur put my namesake in his place over 6f.
My apologies if I seemed a bit harsh I forget at times there are many racing fans who prefer the flat, which is after all where many great horses are to be found.
My one worry with Moscow Flyer was when he met horses like Well Chief and Azertyuiop he was all out to beat them. There wasn’t a lot between them although as you say he was the best.
I think Master Minded has a lot to do with the fact there doesn’t seem to be many good 2 milers around. Would Tidal Bay for example not be going for the QMCC if MM was nota round?
It is rapidly getting to the Arkle stage. Arkle beat Mill House so easily nothing wanted to take him on at levels. Master Minded did exactly the same to VPU last season has contiued the trend and the others simply don’t want to know.
I have no idea how small a field we will get in the QMCC this year but if he wins like he did the other day and trains on, you will be lucky if 4 turn up next season to take him on. He really is that good IMO
The Masterminded ‘factor’ coupled with the (IMO wrong) decision to make the Rynair a Grade 1, could easily make the QMCC similar to yesterday – a crap race won by an outstanding horse. I think the Rynair will have more runners than the Gold Cup and the Champion Chase this season, which i see as a real shame. I hope the greedy bean counters will be satisfied.
Fists – I’m not sure Moscow Flyer was ever "all out" to beat The Chief and Azertyuiop. He was a notorious idler and never really looked like getting caught at any stage in races like the Tingle Creek and the Champion Chase when Azertyuiop make that mistake.
For the record, i’m hugely impressed with this Masterminded – looks almost unbeatable at the moment. Bit like Kauto Star did before the new kid on the block arrived – its hard not to get carried away, but we shouldn’t.
Have to agree with PC’s point about Moscow Flyer. He always idled when he hit the front but there was always plenty left in the tank when either Azertyiuop or Well Chief came at him in either the Champion Chase or the Tingle Creek. He was unbeaten over fences every time he completed up until his last few races when he looked to have lost his enthusiasm for the game. (Still convinced he beat Rathgar Beau at the 05 Punchestown Festival btw!).
Master Minded may well be a better horse than Moscow was but there is nothing around at the moment to give him a race so it is hard to really guage how good he is. I think that the ease of his victories have as much to do with the quality of opposition as they have with his level of ability. I know it was over a longer trip but I could never have seen Moscow get beaten by Voy Por Ustedes as convincingly as Master Minded was at Liverpool.
There is no doubting he’s a bloody good horse but I think some people might be getting a bit carried away. He’s still a young horse and probably still improving but it’s just a pity there’s no Moscow Flyer or Azertyiuop around to see how good he really is or could be.
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