Master on course for Champion hat-trick

Master Minded faces eight rivals as he bids to emulate Badsworth Boy with a third successive victory in Wednesday’s Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Paul Nicholls’ charge routed the Cheltenham field in 2008 and while he had to work a little harder for a second win last year, he still had seven lengths in hand of Well Chief.

That David Pipe-trained rival is back for more, while Nicholls also saddles Twist Magic, who fell at the second-last fence last year.

Last year’s Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer takes his chance for Tom Cooper as does Ferdy Murphy’s Kalahari King, who was beaten just a short head in the novice event.

Willie Mullins sends Golden Silver while Big Zeb, who also crashed out in last year’s renewal, has been declared by Colm Murphy.

Alan King’s Oh Crick and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Mahogany Blaze complete the line-up.