Chief looks Champion after Master Class

Well Chief received the universal backing of the bookmaking industry for the 2010 Queen Mother Champion Chase after slamming dual Cheltenham Festival winner Master Minded in the Connaught Chase.

The reigning champion still dominates the betting but is out to 7-4 with William Hill, who trimmed Well Chief into 7-1 from 20s. Coral, Ladbrokes and totesport all offer Well Chief at 6-1.

Paul Nicholls had warned Master Minded would benefit from the outing and the writing was on the wall for the 4-7 favourite as Timmy Murphy produced the David Pipe-trained Well Chief (11-4) to lead over the third-last.

Master Minded had hung right throughout under Ruby Walsh and wilted on the run-in to finish nearly three lengths adrift of Mahogany Blaze, who was in turn a length and a quarter back from Well Chief.

Nicholls said: “For some reason he was just hanging right-handed and we will have to find out why.

“He has needed the run, he’s having a blow and he won’t have to give 10lb away again.

“We’ll have to see what happens in the Tingle Creek, but the concern is his hanging right-handed.”

Well Chief belongs to the great triumvirate of two-mile chasers alongside Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop and was masterly produced by Pipe to bustle up Master Minded in March after nearly two years off the track.

Seven lengths separated the pair that day and Pipe and owner David Johnson were overjoyed that he managed to turn the form around, albeit in receipt of a handy weight concession.

Pipe said: “It is very special and it was very special to see the reception the crowd gave him, as they did when he finished second in the Champion Chase last season.

“We just have to look after him even more and I am a lucky person to be able to train him.

“We’ll get him back to Pond House and hope his legs are OK and then look at the Tingle Creek.”

Johnson added: “David has always persevered with him. He is a 175-rated horse at his best so we have always hung in there as horses like him don’t come along very often.

“We were getting 10lb so I am not getting carried away but let’s see what March brings. He has done it and I think he will improve for it too.

“He has been the highest-rated horse I have ever had and he probably the missed the best years of his life by spending two years in his box.

“It is like having a 10-year-old car with 3,000 miles on the clock.”