Master Minded remains in chandler hunt

Master Minded heads a field of nine left in Saturday’s Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

Clive Smith’s dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero may have failed in the Cheltenham showpiece last March but he has been in tremendous form this season, winning on both of his starts.

His trainer Paul Nicholls has a second string to his bow in Tchico Polos.

Master Minded took this race two years ago and the runner-up that day, Petit Robin, is also in the line-up, having finished second to his old rival at Cheltenham last month.

Nicky Henderson has also left in Mad Max, while a quality entry also includes Ferdy Murphy’s Champion Chase third Kalahari King, the Nick Williams-trained Gauvain, Henrietta Knight’s Somersby and I’m So Lucky from David Pipe’s stable.

Completing the nine left in the Grade One contest is the Emma Lavelle-trained Crack Away Jack, who is on the comeback trail having been off the track since December 2009.

The three withdrawals at the latest acceptance stage were Free World and Herecomesthetruth and the Henderson-trained French Opera.

Smith has been delighted with Master Minded's form so far this season, and is hoping the eight-year-old's good run can continue.

“We are looking forward to it,” said the owner.

“He’s actually had an interrupted season this season as opposed to last year when he appeared to have that cracked rib just before Christmas then we had him off training for a month.

“Although he raced well enough in the Game Sprit, he obviously didn’t quite get back to his best, but he seems pretty good this year so we’ll see how he goes.”