Irish are minded to turn over the master
Paul Nicholls’ favourite would be the first horse since Badsworth Boy in 1985 to win this race on three successive occasions but the second of those wins was less impressive than his first. Subsequently less than scintillating performances only added to the uncertainty before an ailment was diagnosed and a return to form duly followed at Newbury last month.
Tommy Cooper’s Forpadytheplasterer will be one of those hoping that Master Minded is not the same horse as he was in 2008. In fact, the Tralee man is adamant that the favourite is not “the horse he was two years ago”.
Colm Murphy’s Big Zeb will be another hoping to capitalise on any signs of weakness shown by the two-time champion and the Wexford-based trainer is of one mind with his compatriot on this one.
“Punchestown has probably shown us that he probably is beatable,” said Murphy yesterday. “It’s questionable how right he was that day, how much of the real Master Minded we did see.
“If he is back to the horse he was two years ago he is going to be very hard to beat. As anyone will tell you, in saying that, he has his documented troubles as well.
“It’s hard to get them back into the condition they were when they were peaking. He is the one to beat but there are plenty of others there to beat, like Twist Magic.
“He has done nothing wrong all year and then there is Kalahari King. It’s not just a one-horse race.”
Big Zeb has had issues of his own, particularly in Britain. He struggled here 12 months ago when falling heavily and he made no admirers with his lackadaisical run-out at Sandown in December.
Still, Murphy was talking the talk yesterday and was adamant that Sandown’s lesson has been learned. Big Zeb has travelled well, he is fresh and he will be guided by Barry Geraghty who has ample experience on him this year.
“He seems to be best fresh,” said Murphy. “He proved that with his first run last year. He won the Paddy Power Chase at Christmas. We made a mistake this year in backing him up quick after his first race in Navan on heavy ground. He won quite well and won quite easy.
“You might say Barry was a bit cheeky on him but it left a mark. It was still two mile on heavy ground. We were hoping that it didn’t take as much out of him and we took the chance and we travelled over with him. In hindsight, we should have left him longer after his first run. We got greedy fingers and paid the price.”
Cooper has worries of his own with Forpadytheplaster. Injury impeded his preparations but the harder ground is expected to suit him and his battle against adversity may actually be the making of last year’s Arkle Chase winner if the Tralee-based Cooper is to be believed.
“No, he didn’t have ideal preparation. He had a stone bruise for four or five days and then he was back a week or ten days and it reoccurred again. That stopped him for seven days but that might actually be a blessing in disguise.
“We actually had to send him swimming for that time and he went back to work a real fresh horse. He came together really quick.”
