The latest setback for the horse occurred on Boxing Day. Competing in a three mile event for the first time, Master Minded suffered a tendon injury in the King George at Kempton.

Since then, surgery has been successful, but the complications could continue with infection a genuine possibility. Therefore, Master Minded is certain not to be involved at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Owner Smith said:  “I was down at the yard on Monday and Dan Skelton gave me a good summary of the injury in detail, to which Paul Nicholls added some points.”

“Basically, he has had his open tendon sewn back together. It was not ruptured, just severely damaged. The big problem with injuries like this is if they get any muck in them but Master Minded’s is clean at the moment.”

“He remains in Newmarket and as much as possible is being done for him. He’s in plaster and I think he will be for about a month.”

“He will obviously have a very long rest but hopefully he will be walking on the roads by the end of the year with a possible return to training about 12 months away.”

“The answer is we just don’t know if he will race again at this stage. But if he doesn’t he’s been a wonderful horse – if it wasn’t for Kauto Star he would have been the horse of a lifetime.”

As for the mentioned Kauto Star, Smith was full of praise for the famous horse, saying: ”He has won everything he can and has been so adaptable – dropping down to win two Tingle Creeks, but also being able to win two Gold Cups and four Betfair Chases.”

“He’s won more Grade Ones than the others – I know there weren’t those kind of races around for Arkle and the rest – but you can’t knock his achievements.”

The Cheltenham Festival is the next major event Kauto Star will be looking for success in of course, although Master Minded will not be in action.

Everyone loves the Cheltenham Festival. It is four days of action packed racing with other entertainment on show before, during and after the races too. It is, quite simply, a week that every horse racing punter gets excited about.

For the female punters, Ladies Day – which is the second day of the Festival – has particular significance. It is the chance to have fun with the Ladies Fashion awards and is without doubt the most glamorous day of the festival.

The action on the racetrack still holds its importance though. The highlight is definitely the Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase, but the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle – up second on Ladies day – is one to watch out for too.

The Class A Grade 1 event covers a distance of two miles and five furlongs and is open to novices aged four years and over. It is often seen as a race where the brightest and most promising competitors come shining through.

Taking a quick look at the history of winners in this event says it all. French Holly, Barton and Monsignor – all of whom have won the Cheltenham Gold Cup – have been successful in this race.

It is a special event because it doesn’t just suit one style of horse. The winner could be a top class strayer, just as easily as it could be an old school chasing horse. This is what makes it so fascinating.

There are of course some front runners as far as the betting markets are concerned though. Fingal Bay is the current favourite at 5/1, while Sous Les Cieux (10/1), Simonsig (12/1) and Super Duty (16/1) are all contenders too.

Sandwiched in-between the National Hunt Steeple Chase and the RSA Steeple Chase on Ladies Day, the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle gets underway at 2.05pm on Wednesday 14th March 2012.

Nicky Henderson’s eight-year-old has always had ability in abundance but has yet to step up to Grade One company, but Wednesday’s Champion Chase will see the gelding try his hand with the big boys.

He disappointed on his first run when trailing in last at Sandown, but he was never going on the heavy ground that day and can be refused that blot. However, the manor he trounced a decent Game Spirit field showed his potential and with the Champion Chase as wide open as ever this year there’s no reason why he couldn’t ruffle a few feathers in the contest.

One plus for any horse is course form and French Opera has excelled round Prestbury Park with two wins, a second and a third. Incidentally, that second was in the Grand Annual at the festival last year where he was narrowly run down by the effervescent Pigeon Island.

If the ground is good, good to soft come March 16 then this will really play into French Opera’s chances as he has excelled when conditions underfoot have veered away from soft.

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Rivals on the day, Master Minded and Big Zeb both have wonderful chances with some up-and-coming stars like Woolcombe Folly and Somersby likely to run well.

However, the current 40/1 ante-post price is far too big about an unknown quantity and if one or two disappoint on the day, I fancy Henderson to be notching up another placed contender.

He is an exceptional horse and looked very impressive last year when winning this race for the second time.

He finished 3rd of 6 at Cheltenham in the Connaght Chase. Afterwards the trainer advised the horse had a problem with his rib so we can discount that run.

Champion Chase Tips

Masterminded looked back to form last time out when 1st of 5 runners (note: one of those runners was a 200/1 outsider who would find it hard to win a class 4 chase).

So yes, he looks back in form and has won impressively, but I would argue the opposition was nothing to light up the sky about, and that would slightly worry me especially at the odds on offer – currently 4/5 odds on.

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At the end of the day he has been here and done it twice. Masterminded will be ready and is sure to run well but I would question if there are any other horses in this race that could take his crown?

The answer could be Big Zeb, winner of 7 races, and if he gets his jumping sorted out he could be anything. The only concern with this horse is if he will stay up on his feet, but if he does he can claim this prize in fine style.

I have no doubts the connections will be delighted with Barry Geraghty who is available to ride this horse at the Festival (He has won on Big Zeb 5 times).

Big Zeb’s last race in the Tied Cottage Grade 2 Chase was brilliant, beating Golden Silver by 7 lengths, and he is one to consider here.

I like the Arkle form of last year for this race, and it’s worth considering that the winners (and placed horses) of the Arkle who go on to contest the Champion chase run very well.

This would lead us to consider Kalahari King and Forpadydeplasterer.

Kalahari King was a short head second in last year’s Arkle at the Festival and has improved on again. He can run a big race and hit the frame here.

Champion Chase Recommended Bet:

• Big Zeb – 2 pts each-way @ 9/1 with Paddy Power (Non runner no bet)
• Back Kalahari King to win @ 5/1 with Stan James

Master Minded bids to emulate Badsworth Boy in becoming only the second horse to win the two mile championship contest on three successive occasions.

Paul Nicholls’ charge has had a far from ideal preparation, a cracked rib being cited as the reason for his defeat on his seasonal debut. However, Master Minded (5/6) dismissed a weak field in the Game Spirit at Newbury on his latest start this but confirmed that he was back to near his best.

Master Minded faces eight rivals including last season’s Arkle first and second, Kalahari King (4/1) and Forpadytheplasterer (8/1). Kalahari King will relish the lively surface and impressed when conceding weight all round and winning easily at Doncaster on his first start this season.

Champion Chase Free Bets

Big Zeb (9/1) has lots of potential but needs to overcome his jumping frailties while Twist Magic (7/1), stable companion of Master Minded looks a revived horse judged on his two Grade One victories this season.

A fascinating RSA Chase takes place at 2.40. Nicky Henderson holds both Long Run and Punchestowns in the highest of regard while Diamond Harry and Weapon’s Amnesty are two other high class novices.

Amatuer rider Sam Waley-Cohen will have his riding skills tested to the limit here on a horse with a huge engine but who is inclined to race enthusiastically. Citizen Vic is another that cannot be ruled out of calculations given his improving profile.

Rite Of Passage and Quel Esprit will carry Irish hopes in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle while the Weatherbys Champion Bumper sees the usual strong Irish challenge including three representatives for Willie Mullins and two for Dermot Weld.

Quantitiveeasing will be a leading fancy for the Coral Cup and while his lack of experience is a concern, he is a horse who’s potential has not been fully exposed.

Top-weight Chicago Grey is an interesting contender while Deutschland had a number of engagements earlier in the week and it is notable that connections have opted for this rather than Friday’s Grand Annual.

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Abbeybraney can get punters off to a winning start in the National Hunt Chase.

It promises to be an excellent day of racing and all eyes will be on Master Minded as he bids to win his third Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Master Minded is among 24 entries for the Grade One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and aiming to become only the second horse to win the £320,000 two-mile championship three times, followingBadsworth Boy in the 1980s.

The seven-year-old is one of five entries for champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls along with Free World, I’msingingtheblues, Takeroc and Twist Magic. A strong Irish entry of seven includes the 2009 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor Forpadydepasterer as well as Big Zeb, who was travelling well when falling four out last year, the 2006 victor Newmill and Tranquil Sea, already a winner at Cheltenham this season following his victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 14. The smart novice chaser Sizing Europe has also been given an entry.

Well Chief, the 2004 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor and twice runner-up in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, has been entered by David Pipe. Voy Por Ustedes is no stranger to Festival glory having captured both the 2006 Irish Independent Arkle

Trophy and the 2007 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. Alan King’s charge has been entered once more for the latter contest and is also one of 43 entries for the Grade One Ryanair Chase, in which he finished second last year as the odds-on favourite.

The Sir Robert Ogden-owned nine-year-old was sixth on his latest start in the Grade One Lexus Chase over three miles at Leopardstown on December 29. King is yet to decide whether his charge will contest the two-mile Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase, staged over an extra five furlongs and worth a record £250,000 in 2010.

The Barbury Castle trainer revealed today: “Voy Por Ustedes came back A-one from his run in Ireland and in all likelihood will go to the Game Spirit Chase (two miles & a furlong) at Newbury next month. We will have a look at our options based on what he does there.

“We have given him entries in both the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, so at this stage he could go for either race.”

King has also entered Oh Crick in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. The seven-year-old triumphed in the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at The Festival in March and added a further big-race success in the Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase at Aintree the following month.

King commented: “Oh Crick had a fantastic time last spring and we have given him an entry in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase. He may run in one of those races at Kempton this weekend and then go to Ascot for the Victor Chandler Chase. We will take a view after that. I would be surprised if he is a Queen Mother horse but the stage of the season we are at, we just thought he was due an entry.”

Also among the 43 entries for the Ryanair Chase are the Queen’s Barbers Shop, the 2008 RSA Chase victor Albertas Run and Poquelin, successful over the course and distance in the Boylepsorts.com Gold Cup last month.

The National Hunt Chase saw Old Benny doing us a big favour in the colours of owner Trevor Hemmings in last year’s publication and, in the same silks, Coe would have a leading chance if his jumping holds up. Preference though is for former Festival winner Wichita Lineman, although Jonjo O’Neill’s runner also holds an engagement in the RSA Chase.

Casey Jones is also doubly entered and the winner of a Grade One in his native Ireland for Noel Meade would also enter calculations if they take the 4m option. Diamond Harry (NB) and Cousin Vinny have been vying for favouritism since we began betting on the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle and it promises to be a wonderful renewal, even if the latter takes up his Supreme Novices’ engagement on day one.

Diamond Harry remains unbeaten after six starts for Nick Williams, including an impressive Grade One at Newbury and a workmanlike Grade Two at Cheltenham.

If Mikael D’Haguenet joins stable mate Cousin Vinny by missing the race, then Diamond Harry could go o quite short. What A Friend has surprised even Paul Nicholls by the rate of improvement this term and Sir Alex Ferguson’s six-year-old is unbeaten in two starts over the larger obstacles.

The Uttoxeter executive could never have dreamt that two horses who contested a Novice Chase back in October would now be leading fancies for the RSA Chase but, with Carruthers  nishing two lengths behind What A Friend on that occasion, that is certainly the case.

Despite jumping slightly to the left, the Lord Oaksey owned Carruthers put up a brilliant round of jumping at Ascot last time, and he would have been given the nod had it not been for the fact that his only poor run came at last year’s Festival. Race of the day is the Queen Mother Champion Chase and Master Minded is likely to go o the shortest price of any horse for many a year.

There is absolutely no reason to oppose the highest rated horse in training, which is just in a different class to his rivals.