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| Cheltenham Festival 2010 |
cheltenham festival / 2010 news /
Concerns Over Master Minded's Season as Champion is Sidelined 24/11/09
By Josh Allen
Dual champion chaser Master Minded is set to undergo a bone scan on Thursday and may not run for up to three months.
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The six year old endured a disappointing return to action, finishing third on his seasonal reappearance at Cheltenham. There were also concerns that he hung to the right during the race and the problem re-emerged while being taken out for a canter on Saturday.
Trainer Paul Nicholls said: “He was changing his legs at the top of the gallop and hanging desperately right-handed, just like he did when running at Cheltenham the other day.”
Master Minded had been due to run again in the Tingle Creek Chase on 5th December but will instead head to Newmarket for a scan.
“If that reveals anything, we can take the appropriate action,” said Nicholls, after announcing the change to his plans.
“If nothing shows up, I'll just have to build him up again quietly and hope things come right for Cheltenham in March.”
He added: “Whatever the outcome of the scan. I'll run out of time to have him ready for the Tingle Creek on Saturday week and our main aim will be to get him right again for the Champion Chase.”
If he does make the big race, Master Minded will be in line for a second successive Queen Mother win, after Ruby Walsh led him to victory there last season. Despite today's news, he remains a 3.9 ante-post favourite to win the race, with Big Zeb 5.4 and Master Minded's recent conqueror, Well Chief, available at 9.0.
Meanwhile, stablemate Denman, is set to get his jump season underway in this Saturday's Hennessey Gold Cup at Newbury. The Irish bred star may be top weight for the race but he still has plenty of support from punters and is set to go off as favourite, as he attempts to regain the crown he last won in 2007.
