Super Saturday at Newbury with Denman and Master Minded

Paul Nicholls has the 3 top-rated chasers in his yard, and two of them run their pre-Cheltenham trials at Newbury´s top-class card this afternoon. Denman (Tony McCoy) runs in the Aon Chase over 3 miles at 15.30 CET, while Master Minded (Ruby Walsh) goes for the Game Spiriut Chase over an extended 2 miles at 16.40. They each won these Grade Two chases in 2008 before going on to Cheltenham success. HGowever there the similarities end, as Denman is out to improve his already sensational record (unbeaten at this track in 5 starts, and winner of 14 of 18 career starts) and looks as unbeatable as a runner in a 3 mile chase can be, while Master Minded is on a recovery mission after his sensational defeat last time at Cheltenham. After that race he was found to be suffering from a cracked rib, so there as to be a slight question mark today. He meets old rival Voy por Ustedes (Alan King/ Robert Thornton), who was runner-up to him here 2 years ago and again at Cheltenham, but defeat ed him over 2 1/2 miles at Aintree. Voy por Ustedes, who runs best left-handed, is a clear threat today and in our view so could be Fix the Rib (Gary Moore/ Tony McCoy), who fell last time but before that won 5 out of 6 and is a very promising young chaser over this trio; he also receives a handy weight allowance from the top two. If Master Minded is back to his best, he will win, but he does not appeal as a good bet at the likely odds-on.

Neither is Denman a good bet, for the simple reason that he is likely to start at a crazy price. However it wil be the shock of the season if he gets beaten here. Ruby Walsh is apparently slightly disgruntled that he does not partner Denman, who is entrusted to McCoy, who will be his partner in the Gold Cup, where Ruby understandably rides Kauto Star. However the decision to put his Cheltenham jockey up on Denman is logical. Walsh now partners stable companion Tricky Trickster, who is apparently Nicholls´ main Grand National hope. He could follow Denman home, although on ratings the German-bred Air Force One (Charlie Mann/ Paul Moloney) is the second best runner in the field of 6. However the son of Lando has been off for 10 months with various problems and is unlikely to be sharp enough today.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Diamond Harry - Inchidaly Rock - Bensalem
2. Race: Alfie Sherrin - So Now - Tarateeno
3. Race: Denman - Air Force One - Tricky Trickster
4. Race: Spirit River - Harry Tricker - Ronaldo des Mottes
5. Race: Master Minded - Voy Por Ustedes - Mahogany Blaze
6. Race: Bellvano - Tito Bustillo - Gus Macrae
7. Race: Al Ferof - Made In Time - Dragon`S Roost