Nicholls star to master his rivals again

RACING: OF ALL the hot favourites at Cheltenham this week - and there are plenty - Master Minded strikes me as the most secure.

Paul Nicholls’ ace two-miler, winner of the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase for the last two seasons, looks a good thing to complete the hat-trick at the Festival tomorrow.

The seven-year-old blitzed his rivals in this race two years ago and, although not quite as impressive in 2009, still won in clear-cut fashion.

A fractured rib explained a poor run when only third to Well Chief at tomorrow’s track on his reappearance this season.

And, following a lengthy lay-off to recuperate, Master Minded bounced back to his best at Newbury, spreadeagling his rivals with a scintillating display of jumping and galloping.

His one blemish was a blunder at the last fence, but he had long since put the race to bed and I don’t envisage any repeat tomorrow.

Quite simply, at his best Master Minded is a class apart from his rivals, who could be led home by Kalahari King.

He was just touched off by Forpadydeplaster in last year’s Arkle Chase at this meeting and I fully expect the tables to be turned.

Kalahari King, who won decisively on his reappearance at Doncaster, has progressed since last year while his rival appears to have gone backwards.

He is definitely the one for the forecast as I don’t fancy Twist Magic around this track and Big Zeb has never delivered on English turf.

Well Chief is nowhere near as talented as he used to be, but he will be ridden for a place and could just sneak one at long odds. This course specialist will be running on when others have cried enough.

Racing opens with the National Hunt Chase in which I like the each-way claims of Presenting Express, while I will be surprised if anything is good enough to beat the highly-regarded Rite Of Passage in the Neptune Novices’ Hurdle.

For each-way backers, Peddlers Cross looks solid, although the fancy prices have long vanished on Donald McCain’s five-year-old.

The RSA Chase should provide a crackerjack duel between stable companions Punchestowns and Long Run.

Both are considered Gold Cup horses by trainer Nicky Henderson, but Long Run has looked a machine in his two wins since coming here from France and might just be the next Kauto Star. We will know more tomorrow.

Notus De La Tour, my long-term fancy for the Triumph, is favourite for the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle and must take all the beating if taking part in tomorrow’s handicap.

David Pipe’s French import is considered to be one of the trainer’s brightest prospects and his defeat of Ranjobaie at Plumpton last time reads well in view of that one’s fine effort at Sandown on Saturday.

The concluding Champion Bumper could go to Tavern Times from the Tom Mullins stable.

The six-year-old, winner of his only start like several in this race, shone in a recent gallop with some of Willie Mullins’ contenders and is clearly talented.