LIVERPOOL DAY TWO REPORT
MASTER MINDED appointed himself as a King George replacement for the deposed Kauto Star after collecting his eighth top-level prize in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at Aintree yesterday.
Age finally caught up with Kauto Star at Kempton in January when he could not deliver a fifth consecutive victory in the race for trainer Paul Nicholls and owner Clive Smith but those connections had an immediate idea to claim it back from the triumphant Long Run.
This was a replay of the Master Minded of old, the powerful French-bred who has terrorised the two-mile division since the spring of 2008. But his crown had slipped too – finishing only eighth in last month’s Queen Mother Champion Chase – and Nicholls decided it was time for him to step back up another four furlongs.
Master Minded had suffered a shock defeat to Voy Por Ustedes in this race three years ago but he has gradually been trained differently in order to preserve his outrageous cruising speed for longer.
A strong field had gathered including the most proven jumper at the distance, dual Ryanair Chase winner Albertas Run, who was a respectable runner-up here but nine lengths adrift.
Swinging along for Ruby Walsh as he so often does, Master Minded was in complete control by the final fence to prove his generous odds of 11 to 2 to be well wide of the mark.
“That was brilliant. We now have a new horse to take on Long Run,” said Nicholls. “With hindsight I probably should have run him in the Ryanair instead of the Champion Chase, where he was flat to the boards and made a horrible mistake two out because he was trying to keep up. We changed his training routine after Cheltenham and worked him with slower horses, which enabled him to relax and enjoy himself.”
King George sponsors William Hill cut Master Minded to 4 to 1 (he is bigger elsewhere) behind 5 to 4 favourite Long Run. Nicholls went on: “My idea is, he is the horse next year. Kauto has been to Kempton and got the video and the t-shirt, so now it’s Master Minded’s turn. He’s eight and it’s clear he now needs a longer distance so he’ll have a holiday and go for the same race he won at Ascot over two and a half miles and then the King George.”
Smith added: “It was very exciting. We weren’t sure if he could stay the two and a half, which he did, and whether he was back to form, which he was. I don’t know if he and Kauto Star will meet in the King George. Kauto’s got a race in Ireland (Down Royal). I can’t believe we’d have two in the King George, but you never know. We will have to see how Kauto Star runs at Punchestown, but the first time he runs a bad race he’ll be retired.”
Walsh reported: “He travelled lovely in behind them and he came on the bridle strongly when we turned out the back. It was a case of not going too soon. He picked up well, jumped the last well and quickened all the way to the line. He wants to go further and I imagine the King George will be his target. You won’t know if he will stay until he goes three miles. It’s probably a natural progression for him. If he doesn’t stay he can always go back for the Ryanair. With him it’s no different from watching Lionel Messi or Ronaldo – you expect magic every day.”
Somersby was a respectable third and is also bound for a jump in trip. “He was the youngest in the field and that was probably his best run of the season,” said trainer Henrietta Knight. “On that evidence he looks like a stayer, so the King George comes into consideration.”
Barry Geraghty will ride on Or Noir De Somoza in today’s Grand National at Aintree after original jockey Tom Scudamore suffered a dislocated shoulder in a fall yesterday. Scudamore was partnering The Giant Bolster in the Mildmay Novices’ Chase and took a heavy tumble when the gelding came down at the fifth fence.
