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I think Well Chief is entitled to improve for his first run of the season as well. He won with a bit in hand today and I think he’ll still be a major force to be reckond with this season off level weights.
For me, its not the defeat that is surprising its the manner of defeat. Ran with the choke out a bit and hung badly right throughout. Paul Nicholls said that is something the horse used to do couple years back and would suggest a physical problem.
Was good to see Well Chief win and Mahogany Blaze had Visor/Blinkers on first time with Twiston Davies yard firing so not that surprised he finished close up.
As regards the Tinle Creek or Champion Chase you have to feel Kalahari King and Forpadytheplasterer (both thumped Planet of Sound in the Arkle) will have a say. I wouldn’t be surprised if either ducked a meeting with Master Minded in the Tingle Creek knowing that defeat there might burst there bubbles a bit. Both want fast ground and are unlikely to get that at Sandown with the wet spell we have.
But if the excuse today was that he was hanging right handed, he still had a fright at Punchestown with Big Zeb [haven’t seen the race], which was a right handed track. PN seemed quite shocked after todays race.
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The horse probably hung because he was tired, much as he was on similar ground at Punchestown at the end of last season, when certainly much fitter. Though he’d won on ‘heavy’ in France, that’s a very different heavy to the Briish/Irish version, and he’d managed just 1 win from 5 runs on it, and against much lesser opposition.
It’s been a feature of all his best performances that – by virtue of his speed alone – he’s had them won some way from home, and he’s patently unable to do so given a serious test of stamina. Probably also explains his Aintree thrashing by VPU, when he had nothing left from 2 out over one of the sharpest tracks in the country.
The bitter irony is; though thousands have done their money (I wasn’t one of them) the horse was plainly being trained on the racecourse, and not a single question will be asked as to why? Imagine the hue and cry, had Clive Smith’s milkman layed the horse to significant money, and then tell where the BHA’s priorities lie, vis-a-viz racing’s integrity?I was at Cheltenham yesterday and Master Minded was disappointing as he didn’t look particularly big in the paddock. He will come on for the run but he was far from unfit. Well Chief looked muscled and pretty well tuned and Mahogony Blaze looked marvellous, tuned to the minute.
This wasn’t a Champion Chase performance from anything, Mahogony Blaze’s proximity plus the runnings of Newmill and William Butler indicated that Master and Well Chief were someway below their best form. However, lovely to see Well Chief back in the winners enclosure. 11/4 was a huge price.
Im not sure whether it was just needing a run, or the ground, or giving away 10lbs to Well Chief, Master Minded looked to have had big problems yesterday.
His coat wasn’t great, he looked under-weight/muscled and he looked to have just have the foot on the gas all the way round.
Well Chief traveled brilliantly during the race and deserved the win.
I was just suprised at how fast Master Minded faded.
I think both of them will come on for the run and whilst i think Master Minded may improve a lot, there are clearly problems there and i wouldn’t be opposed to back against him in the future.
The Tingle Creek will be interesting.
It’s gonna be some Tingle Creek next month – nearly as good as the Moscow v Azertyuiop v Well Chief renewal. My money will be on Chiefy again!
I think that MM definitely suffered on that ground.
He is such a speedy horse, the conditions really did not play to his strengths.
I know champions should be able to overcome adversity, but he really does like to hear his hooves rattle.
At 7/4 I think MM is worth backing. He will probably be shorter on the Champion Chase day, as I expect him to win the Tingle Creek as long as it isn’t soft.
Well Chief was brilliant, but that may well be his day, who is to say he will make it to Cheltenham?
Zip
If the pipes can get Well Chief to sandown in the same nick as sunday…even off levels i can still see him giving MM an almighty battle. Yes mahogany blaze was close up on sunday,master minded ran too free,hung etc etc….
Imo mahog. blaze was so close down to 3 things..ground,race sharpness and stable flying.He wont be that close to WC or MM again imo. Well Chief done that very very easily imo,he wasnt flat out and clinging on to the win….Murphy hardly laid the stick on him,just a little flick to keep him from idling in front….otherwise hands and heels.I havent watched the race back but i bet PB wasnt so lenient on MB in getting so close! Ive also a feeling that these days MM is just an in and out performer..and could be more out than in! At his best ie QMCC 2 years ago and tingle creek last year he is awesome…but his performance on sunday tells me that sometimes he doesnt fancy it anymore.
ps if it was me id leave Well Chief until the QMCC to run him again.
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