Cheltenham News

 

Formerly trained in France by Guillaume Macaire, for whom he won three times over hurdles and fences, Master Minded was bought by Clive Smith and transferred to Paul Nicholls in Ditcheat, Somerset in November, 2007. He made an inauspicious start to his British chasing career, blundering and unseating jockey Sam Thomas at the third fence on his debut at Exeter the following month.

Neverthless, having won his next two starts under Ruby Walsh, including the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at Newbury, Master Minded headed to Prestbury Park for his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival. Sent off 3/1 favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, he readily went clear in the closing stages for an impressive, 19-length victory over Voy Por Ustedes.

By the time the 2009 Cheltenham Festival rolled around, Master Minded had established himself as the dominant force in the two-mile chasing division, adding the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown and the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot to his winning tally with a minimum of fuss. Sent off at a prohibitive 4/11, he had little difficulty is winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase for the second year running, comfortably beating Well Chief by 7 lengths.

Master Minded was actually sent off favourite for the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 2010 and 2011, but failed to show quite the same sparkle as in previous years, finishing fourth and eighth, respectively. On his retirement from racing, in December, 2011, he had won 16 of his 28 races and over £1.16 million in prize money.

Day One Results: Champion Day (16th March 2021)

13:20 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

? Appreciate It (P Townend) 8/11 Fav
? Ballyadam (JW Kennedy) 6/1
? Blue Lord (DA Jacob) 11/1

13:55 Arkle Challenge Trophy Steeple Chase

? Shiskin (Nico De Boinville) 4/9 Fav
? Eldorado Allen (H Cobden) 33/1
? Allmankind (Harry Skelton) 5/1

14:30 Handicap Steeple Chase

? Vintage Clouds (Ryan Mania) 28/1
? Happygolucky (David Bass) 10/3
? Aye Right (R Johnson) 11/2

15:05 Champion Hurdle Challenge Trophy

? Honeysuckle (Rachel Blackmore) 11/10 Fav
? Sharjah (P Townend) 11/1
? Epatante (Aidan Coleman) 4/1

15:40 The Mares’ Hurdle

? Black Tears (JW Kennedy) 11/1
? Concertista (P Townend) 10/11 Fav
? Roksana (Harry Skelton) 3/1

16:15 Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

? Jeff Kidder (SW Flanagan) 80/1
? Saint Sam (P Townend) 9/2 Fav
? Elham Valley (PJ Brennan) 66/1

16:50 The National Hunt Steeple Chase Challenge Cup

? Galvin (J W Kennedy) 7-2
? Next Destination (H Cobden) 3-1
? Escaria Ten (Adrian Heskin) 11-4 Fav

Day Two Results: Ladies Day (17th March 2021)
13:20 Novices’ Hurdle

? Bob Olinger (Rachael Blackmore) 6/4 Fav
? Gaillard Du Mesnil (P Townend) 9/4
? Bravemansgame (H Cobden) 4/1

13:55 Novices’ Steeple Chase

? Monkfish (P Townend) 1/4 Fav
? Fiddlerontheroof (RM Power) 40/1
? The Big Breakaway (H Cobden) 12/1

14:30 Handicap Hurdle

? Heaven Help Us (RJ Condon) 33/1
? Craigneiche (Tom Cannon) 17/2
? Tea Clipper (JJ Burke) 33/1

15:05 Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

? Put The Kettle On (Aidan Coleman) 17/2
? Nube Negra (Harry Skelton) 11/1
? Chacun Pour Soi (P Townend) 8/13 Fav

15:40 Cross Country Steeple Chase

? Tiger Roll (KM Donoghue) 9/2
? Easyland (Felix de Giles) 1/1 Fav
? Some Neck (R Johnson) 17/2

16:15 Grand Annual Handicap Chase

? Sky Pirate (Nick Scholfield) 14/1
? Entoucas (MP Walsh) 7/1
? Ibleo (Charlie Deutsch) 9/1

16:50 Champion Bumper

? Sir Gerhard (Rachael Blackmore) 2/1
? Kilcruit (P Townend) 10/11 Fav
? Elle Est Belle (Harry Skelton) 16/1

Day Three Results: St Patrick’s Thursday (18th March 2021)
13:20 Novices’ Chase

? Chantry House (Nico de Boinville) 9/1
? Fusil Raffles (DA Jacob) 14/1
? Asterion Forlonge (P Townend) 14/1

13:55 Pertemps Network Final

? Mrs Milner (BJ Cooper) 12/1
? The Bosses Oscar (JC Gainford) 10/3 Fav
? Come On Teddy (JJ Burke) 10/1

14:30 The Ryanair Steeple Chase

? Allaho (Rachael Blackmore) 3/1 Fav
? Fakir D’Oundaires (MP Walsh) 11/2
? Tornado Flayer (DE Mullins) 25/1

15:05 Stayers’ Hurdle

? Flooring Porter (D Mullins) 12/1
? Sire Du Berlais (Mark Walsh) 5/1
? Paisley Park (Aidan Coleman) 9/4 Fav

15:40 Stable Plate

? The Shunter (JC Gainford) 9/4 Fav
? Farclas (JW Kennedy) 5/1
? Top Notch (Luca Morgan) 50/1

16:15 Mares Novices’ Hurdle

? Telmesomethinggirl (Rachael Blackmore) 5/1
? Magic Daze (RM Power) 22/1
? Mighty Blue (JJ Slevin) 12/1

16:50 Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup

? Mount Ida (JW Kennedy) 3/1 Fav
? Cloudy Glen (RT Dunne) 33/1
? Shantou Flyer (H Cobden) 11/2

Day Four Results: Gold Cup Day (19th March 2021)
13:20 Triumph Hurdle

? Quilixios (Rachael Blackmore) 7/4
? Adagio (T Scudamore) 17/2
? Haut En Couleurs (P Townend) 14/1

13:55 County Handicap Hurdle

? Belfast Banter (KC Sexton) 33/1
? Petit Mouchoir (J C Gainford) 22/1
? Milkwood (RT Dunne) 28/1

14:30 Novices’ Hurdle

? Vanillier (MP Walsh) 14/1
? Oscar Elite (Jonjo O’Neill Jr) 40/1
? Streets of Doyen (SD Torrens) 10/1

15:05 The Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase 2021

? Minella Indo (JW Kennedy) 9/1
? A Plus Tard (Rachael Blackmore) 3/1
? Al Boum Photo (P Townend) 9/4 Fav

15:40 Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Steeple Chase

? Porlock Bay (Lorcan Williams) 16/1
? Billaway (P Townend) 2/1 Fav
? Staker Wallace (MP Walsh) 9/1

16:15 Mares’ Chase

? Colreevy (P Townend) 9/4
? Elimay (MP Walsh) 6/5 Fav
? Shattered Love (JW Kennedy) 6/1

16:50 Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle

? Galopin Des Champs (SF O’Keefe) 8/1
? Langer Dan (Lorcan Williams) 13/2
? Floueur (Paul O’Brien) 33/1