Clive Smith’s chaser became the first five-year-old to win the Champion Chase when beating Voy Por Ustedes by 19 lengths in 2008 and returned to Cheltenham 12 months later for another comprehensive success, posting a seven-length verdict over Well Chief.
After only finishing fourth in last season’s contest, Master Minded underwent a breathing operation over the summer and the eight-year-old has looked back to his brilliant best this term, following up a facile win in a Grade Two chase at Ascot in November with a clear-cut victory in the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase, which was this year run at Cheltenham on December 11 following the abandonment of Sandown.
A quartet of entries from Master Minded’s trainer Paul Nicholls, who also saddled Call Equiname (1999) and Azertyuiop (2004) to victory, includes Woolcombe Folly, who announced himself as a live contender for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase with a convincing success in the Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase at The International.
Tataniano, victorious in the Grade One John Smith’s Maghull Novices’ Chase at Aintree in April, and Grade Two totesport.com Haldon Gold Cup Chase winner Tchico Polos complete the potential challenge from the champion Jump trainer.
Irish-trained horses have enjoyed an excellent record in the Champion Chase in recent years, courtesy Moscow Flyer (2003 & 2005), Newmill (2006) and Big Zeb, who took the spoils last season. The Colm Murphy-trained 10-year-old has beaten the Willie Mullins-trained Golden Silver on both his appearances this season, including when scoring in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 29.
Last season’s runner-up and winner of The Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase in 2009, Forpadydeplasterer, could also make the trip across the Irish Sea once more for trainer Tom Cooper, while Henry de Bromhead has entered Sizing Europe, who triumphed at last year’s Festival in The Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase.
Captain Cee Bee gave trainer Edward Harty a first Cheltenham Festival success when beating subsequent Stan James Champion Hurdle winner Binocular in the 2008 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and the J P McManus-owned 10-year-old went on to capture the Grade One Ryanair Novice Chase at Punchestown in April.
Grade One scorer Barker, dual Grade Two victor Scotsirish and last year’s Ryanair Chase third J’y Vole, who are all stable companions of Golden Silver, complete the Irish contingent.
Nicky Henderson sent out Remittance Man to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1992 and the Lambourn handler has entered Petit Robin, who took third behind Master Minded in 2009, alongside Grade Two winners Mad Max and French Opera.
Henrietta Knight has also enjoyed success in the two-mile championship with Edredon Bleu (2000) and the three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winning-trainer has entered Somersby, whose excellent record at Cheltenham includes when going down by three quarters of a length to Sizing Europe at last season’s Festival.
A pair of entries from Nick Williams consists of recent Sandown winner Cornas and Gauvain, who had the likes of Forpadydeplasterer and Tataniano behind him scoring in the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 at The Open, while David Pipe may be represented by Grade Two Celebration Chase victor I’m So Lucky.
The Emma Lavelle-trained Crack Away Jack has performed admirably on both his previous visits to The Festival, following up victory in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in 2008 with a fine fourth in the Champion Hurdle 12 months later.
The entry is completed by the talented but quirky Herecomesthetruth, who won a Grade One chase as a novice for Paul Nicholls before joining current handler Chris Gordon.
The best-price available for each of the 21 entrants are detailed below:
Master Minded 7/4 (Bet365)
Big Zeb 7/2 (Paddy Power)
Woolcombe Folly 8/1 (Totesport)
Sizing Europe 10/1 (Bet365)
Tataniano 12/1 (Victor Chandler)
Golden Silver 14/1 (Stan James)
Captain Cee Bee 16/1 (888sport)
Forpadydeplasterer 16/1 (William Hill)
Somersby 25/1 (Sportingbet)
Gauvain 28/1 (Victor Chandler)
Mad Max 33/1 (Bet365)
Petit Robin 33/1 (Paddy Power)
French Opera 40/1 (Stan James)
Crack Away Jack 50/1 (Stan James)
JY Vole 50/1 (Stan James)
Barker 50/1 (888sport)
Im So Lucky 66/1 (Skybet)
Cornas 66/1 (Victor Chandler)
Scotsirish 66/1 (Bet365)
Tchico Polos 66/1 (Skybet)
Herecomesthetruth 150/1 (William Hill)
Master Minded is best-price 7/4 to win the 2011 Champion Chase
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