Nicholls on song

Another red letter day at Newbury on Saturday (9 February) for Paul Nicholls’ powerful stable, as two performances from his horses stood out on another significant day of pre Festival action.

First up was Master Minded’s victory over reigning Champion Chaser, Voy Por Ustedes. We hope you took our hint about this horse in the previous Blog entry ("Look out for Denman’s stablemate, Master Minded, in the Game Spirit. If he runs well his current price of 16/1 for the Queen Mother could look huge") as the Clive Smith owned five year old was a most impressive winner of the Game Spirit and is now 5/2 favourite with Ladbrokes for the big race on day two of the Festival.

Supporters of Voy Por Ustedes will undoubtedly point to the fact that he would be far better suited by a faster pace than he got at Newbury and that his conqueror here had the run of the race. In addition, he was giving the winner six pounds.

However, Master Minded would also have preferred a lead, but instead had to win the race the hard way – from the front. He also won surprisingly easily and the result was never in doubt from the minute he shook off Voy Por Ustedes’ initial challenge turning for home.

He looked like he would have won even if he hadn’t enjoyed the weight concession and his jumping was a joy to behold for such a young horse. He may get caught out for lack of experience at Cheltenham, but it is interesting that his trainer has compared him to his stable’s former star, Azertyuiop, and that Ruby Walsh appears inclined to ride him in the Champion Chase, rather than Twist Magic.

Just over half an hour later Denman put on another awesome display of power to gallop his rivals into the ground in the AON Chase, to ensure that the dream clash with Kauto Star in the Gold Cup remains firmly on the cards.

A mistake five out was the only blemish on an otherwise faultless performance, and that error may actually have done Denman good – he seems to find everything he does so easy that the mistake should have helped to focus his mind on the job.

It is difficult to be overly enthusiastic about the quality of the horses he beat, but perennial front runner, Ollie Magern, dared to mix it with Denman from the off, and he paid the price in dramatic fashion, fading in the straight to finish a legless last.

The horse is all about power, and while his running style will undoubtedly set up the Gold Cup for Kauto Star under Ruby Walsh’s stalking tactics, the key will be whether or not the current Champion will have enough reserves of stamina to get past his stable mate in the gruelling run to the line.