Master Minded back to winning form
Master Minded made a triumphant return to action as he landed the Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot.
Paul Nicholls’ dual champion chaser looked invincible in the 2008/9 season, landing all the big two-mile prizes, but he lost his way a bit last term after suffering a rib injury.
Last seen when a lacklustre fourth at Cheltenham in March, Master Minded had undergone a breathing operation during the summer and the 5-6 favourite looked to feel the benefit here.
Travelling well throughout, he barely touched a twig as Noel Fehily let him swing along nicely before moving up to challenge Albertas Run three fences from home.
A proper battle looked set to ensue but as Master Minded ran down the fence slightly, Albertas Run clattered into it, giving Tony McCoy a nasty spill.
That left Master Minded well clear of the field and Fehily just had to pop him over the last two fences in the straight to run out a wide-margin winner over I’msingingtheblues.
Nicholls was at Haydock, where he said: ``He travelled brilliantly and jumped brilliantly - he obviously got the trip really well too.
“Noel gave him a fantastic ride – there’s a lot of pressure riding these horses and he’s doing a great job.
“I’m chuffed to bits, we’re back in business.
“One day, Clive (Smith, owner) would love to go for the King George and maybe we will next year. His next race will be the Tingle Creek at Sandown, and we’ll sit down and discuss what we do next after that.
“He can breathe now and that will have done him the world of good and given him confidence, it was great to see him finish his race like that.
“Noel has come in since Ruby (Walsh) has been hurt, you need an experienced jockey and he has done a great job.”
Asked if Fehily would get the ride on Kauto Star in the King George, Nicholls was non-committal but appeared to drop a heavy hint when he said: “He hasn’t done himself any harm has he?”
Fehily added: “That was absolutely awesome and I was glad to see AP (McCoy) get up. It’s hard to say what would have happened but we were going well.”
Last year's winner Zaynar proved a huge disappointment as the 13-8 favourite trailed home fourth behind Silviniaco Conti in the Coral Hurdle.
Nicky Henderson’s Zaynar claimed third in the Champion and Aintree Hurdles last term but never looked comfortable under Barry Geraghty in this extended two-mile-three-furlong heat.
Geraghty was scrubbing along from some way out while Fehily, in contrast, was enjoying a dream passage up in the inside on the Nicholls-trained winner.
He kicked for home at the third-last and Silviniaco Conti (100-30) responded in style, putting daylight between himself and the placed horses in the straight.
Karabak kept on gamely to claim second but he was seven lengths adrift at the line with Restless Harry a further length and a half adrift in third.
William Hill installed the winner at 6-1 for the World Hurdle and 14-1 for the Champion Hurdle.
Fehily said: “That was very exciting, he travelled so well – I think he could be very, very good.
“He’ll get further in time, but he’s quick enough for two (miles) now I think.”
