As Master Minded was fancied by many as a potential threat to Long Run in the King George I wanted to get people's thoughts on the horse after yesterday's display. For me it was very similar to his showing in the 2011 Champion Chase, he looked lethargic, couldn't go the pace when they quickened and those slight jumping mistakes crept back in. For me the presence of Pure Faith in the same parish means you can put a line through the race form-wise. Clearly the horse wasn't going to be fully wound up for this race BUT to say he was only 80% would be generous - more like 50% if you ask me. A bit of a slur on the memory of Monets Garden who always ran his heart out in this heat. Not sure where he will go next, but the King George looks a million miles away to me. People will draw parallels to Kauto Star being upped in trip but there is a world of difference between Master Minded yesterday and anything Kauto Star did on the track.
In an age where we're talking about legitimate racing, a lot has to asked of the horse's trainer, if it was sent out only 80pc fit. Sure the horse was too short for the average punter to invest on, but what of those who spent up on the exotics? Is this in the best interests of racing?
I have very strong views on this Cyc - I don't think a horse should be let near the track if it isn't fit and ready to do itself justice. This is particularly true of such top class animals as Master Minded who will only have 4 or 5 runs per season. It is the trainers artform to get the horse in top nick for a race and the way John Oxx did this 6 times in 6 months with Sea The Stars is a shining example. Far too often in the NH game everything is focused on Cheltenham and nothing else matters. That is a mentality which is detrimental to the sport and needs to be broken.
Whilst I don't disagree it is frustrating when horses are sent out 'half cooked' first time out, from a punters point of view, it's hardly a new thing. The majority of the big players will all come out like this and improve the proverbial bundles from it. Let's not rule Master Minded out too soon though. Remember we've been in this exact situation in 2007 when a very lethargic looking Kauto Star went down to Monet's Garden (also conceding weight to him) so I'm not worried in the slightest about Master Minded. He'll have one more run before the KG and he'll still put it right up to the young 'un from Mr Henderson's stable on Boxing Day. In fact, he's now become a better value bet for that particular assignment after yesterday's pipe opener!
There's a fine limit between sending them out with the proviso 'he'll need the run' and sending him out with no intention of winning. Tbf most people know Paul Nicholls big guns usually 'need it' and as outlined before Kauto normally returns with a somewhat uninspiring comeback run each season. I accept your point to a degree but it doesn't constitute chicanery in my book Cyc.
I can see where you're coming from Beef, and many of those who haunt this forum, might have expected what happened, but there are a lot of people out there who will have invested, believing the horse was fit enough to win. It's not fair to them. (not that I'm picking a fight)
Oddy, I agree to a point but two things strike me, firstly professional trainers would not deliberately endanger their horses, they use races as a means of sharpening them up, Nicholls to his credit has always been one of the more honest and up front trainers, and secondly from a punting perspective this should be borne in mind, 5/2 Albertas was a stonking price yesterday....
Well then it wasn't fair to me either then as I was one of those people too I knew the above but I still expected him to be 'fit enough' to prevail in that race. You pay your money and you take your chances based on your best made assumptions. Mine were clearly wrong yesterday, not for the first time mind
I wouldn't be to concerned, Master Minded is a bridle horse, so I would have never of fancied him to conceed 10 pounds to Albertas Run, who afterall is a duel Ryanair winner. To conceed lumps of weight you need a horse who battles, Master Minded has never been that type of horse, once he's off the bridle he's cooked. I wouldnt write Master Minded off, clearly Albertas Run was on form, and he is an exceptionally good horse, so 10 pounds is alot. Master Minded's jumping wasn't great either, and if he had jumped properly, he would have given AR a tough race. These jumping mistakes can be ironed out, don't forget he hasn't run for 6 months, so he's probably just a little rusty. I expect he will be alot better next time
Shergar, I agree with most of what you say. Personally I think Master Minded jumped well- until the pressure came on. As I see it, he's always been a horse you must not "disappoint." When he's lost, it's usually been when he's not been leading and had to challenge "under pressure." As you say, he's a 'bridle horse.' When he's in front and jumping well, he's as good a jumper as you'll see in NH. Also, there's no doubt that M. Minded would need to at his very best to give Alberta's run 10lbs over 2.5 miles. I also agree with OddDog- fitness should not be an issue- he should be fit to do himself justice, especially in view of the fact these top horses are kept in "cotton wool." Do you remember Stalbridge Colonist? He won 9 races one season (including 6 in 7 weeks), was still racing in June; and ran 15 times in the season. Most of the top horses only run "as a hobby" nowadays.
He's hardly going to be able to bowl along in front in the King George though is he? I wouldn't touch him with a barge pole for that heat
Oddy, why not? Desert Orchid, See More Business, Captain Christy did . Kempton can suit a front runner. I'm not saying I fancy him to win the King George, but it's a "jumper's course" with its upright fences- and should suit a front runner with M.Minded's jumping prowess.
I don't think he won any races in his career from bowling along at the front did he? Can he not be on the bridle behind other horses in the KG? With stamina being the question mark against him I'd be surprised if they used this tactic in his first go at three miles on Boxing Day.
Im no expert on the jumps game but I think Nicholls and Walsh would have been dissappointed with Master Minded yesterday, the King George is only two months away and the way Nicholls has been talking about him, id be surprised if he was only 50%, surely you would have your horse at 75% yesterday to get him spot on for a race in 2 months time? Master Minded is not a bridle horse, Harchibald was a bridle horse, I think Nicholls or Walsh would laugh at you if you told them Master Minded was a bridle horse. Anyway, Long Run is the horse to beat, he sets the standard and he is only going to get better. Master Minded may have peaked and he has lost his way over the last 2 seasons apart from when he turned up at Aintree, he will have to be right back to his brilliant best to have any chance against the Henderson horse.
Master Minded is that kind of horse, sometimes he runs a little flat. If you liked his chances in the King George before yesterday, then take advantage of the inflated odds now. Yesterday was a funny old 3 runner race, the pace was iffy, it was hard to really get in a rhythm, and giving away 10lb to a horse and jockey combination who quite relish a battle meant it was not the cake walk that people expected. After all, Albertas Run is a double Ryanair winner. Albertas Run also ran a blinder on his comeback in 2009, where he beat Planet of Sound at Cheltenham that November, so I won't be writing off Master Minded, who IMO will be right in the business end of the King George with a clean round of jumping.
I'm not buying into Master Minded not being fit, he was attempting to conceed 10 pounds to a horse who has won 3 consecutive Grade 1 chases at the Cheltenham Festival. Remember when Master Minded was in his prime over 2 miles and he was sent off 4/7 favourite to beat Well Chief conceding 10 pounds, and he was stuffed that day aswell. There was only 9 lenghs between AR and MM at Aintree last season, and this was at level weights, so the 10 pounds would have put MM behind AR, over 2m4. Anyone who got involved at 2/5 was crazy, and it was there own fault, that they can't read a formbook. So stop trying to lay the blame at Nicholls door, the horse was fine, he just wasn't good enough to conceed 10 pounds to AR
Eddie.....well perhaps you can give me examples of MM winning a race when he's been off the bridle early. Master Minded is a class act, but once off the bridle he finds nothing, and his jumping goes to pieces. In his hay day when he won back to back champion chase's nothing could get him off the bridle early enough, that's why he was so dominant. AR and MM are the complete opposite, Master Minded is all class, but has no fight in him. Albertas Run is arguably the most gutsy horse in training, watch either of his Ryanair victories, and you will realise he is as tough as they come, that's why AP is the perfect jockey for him
The Melling Chase was run some 6 seconds quicker than yesterday's race, even though they didn't seem to be going that quick (both times well above standard). Same trip, same course, same ground. I just thought it was a very poor race yesterday (bassed on the 2nd placed horses ability) and I would have Master Minded running somewhere around 35lbs below his official rating. Seems to be a great desire to forgive Master Minded this run, so maybe we should just draw a line under it.
Before the race Nicholls said he had brought Master Minded's seasonal debut forward a month because he was in such great form. So there can be no excuses. The horse has become somewhat inconsistent and it just wasn't one of his days. Although I don't think it applies here, I personally think it is legitimate to use the racecourse to get a horse fit. With some horses it is the only way. The condition of the horse is normally reflected in the price and sometimes unfit horses win anyway or at least land nice each-way bets for the punter. So we should not really complain.
