Master Minded chasing Festival three in-a-row

DUAL winner Master Minded heads 24 entries for the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The seven-year-old will bid to become only the second horse after Badsworth Boy in 183-85 to win the race three times should he defend his title on March 17.

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding has been sidelined with a broken rib since suffering a shock defeat at Cheltenham in November.

Master Minded is one of five entries from the Nicholls yard along with Free World, I’msingingtheblues, Takeroc and Twist Magic.

A strong Irish entry of seven includes the 2009 Arkle Trophy victor Forpadydeplasterer, Big Zeb, 2006 hero Newmill and Tranquil Sea, winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

Smart Irish novice chaser Sizing Europe has also been given an entry while Well Chief, twice runner-up in the Champion Chase, has been entered by David Pipe.

Voy Por Ustedes could bid to repeat his 2007 victory ion this race or bid to go one better in the Ryanair Chase than he did 12 months ago.

Trainer Alan King has yet to decide which race to aim at with the nine-year-old, who was sixth in the Lexus Chase over three miles at Leopardstown on his latest start.

“Voy Por Ustedes came back A-one from his run in Ireland and in all likelihood will go to the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury next month,” said King.

“We will have a look at our options based on what he does there. We have given him entries in both the Champion Chase and the Ryanair Chase, so at this stage he could go for either race.”

King has also entered Oh Crick, winner of the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase at last year’s Festival, in the two-mile feature. “Oh Crick had a fantastic time last spring and we have given him an entry in the Champion Chase,” the Barbury Castle handler went on. “He may run in one of those bumper races at Kempton this weekend and then go to Ascot for the Victor Chandler Chase. We will take a view after that.

“I would be surprised if he is a Queen Mother horse but the stage of the season we are at, we just thought he was due an entry.”

Tom Cooper has left Forpadydeplasterer in both the Champion Chase and the Ryanair, but is leaning towards the former.

The eight-year-old missed an intended engagement at Leopardstown over Christmas after getting cast in his box and the trainer is now considering his next plan of attack.

“Forpadydeplasterer got laid up because of the Christmas frost and I couldn’t get enough work into him so the Victor Chandler Chase is out,” said Cooper, whose charge is an 8-1 chance with Paddy Power for the Queen Mother.

“He will run again before Cheltenham either in the Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown (January 31), although this only gives us one more week than Ascot would have done, or the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park on February 13, and I would imagine that is more likely.

“With the weather we’re just getting Forpadydeplasterer back on track and he’s well in himself and 100%.

“I’ve given him entries in both the Champion Chase and the Ryanair, but I am still swinging towards the Queen Mother.

“I’d love to see some good ground at Cheltenham in March.”