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King George VI Chase 2011  

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Master Minded On Course to Clash with Stablemate Kauto Star in King George 21/11/11

Master Minded continued to confound his supporters on Saturday when easily winning the Grade 2 Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot over 2m3f. The dual Champion Chase winner made a disappointed on his seasonal reappearance in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase at Aintree last month, where he could only finish last of three, eight lengths behind dual Ryanair Chase winner, Albertas Run despite beign the 2/5 favourite.

Master Minded beats Somersby in
the Amlin 1965 Chase
© Racehorse Photos

Master Minded

That result left many asking questions about Master Minded's character given his form left no doubt about his ability. In fact, so much faith was seemignly lost in the Paul Nicholls trained eight year old that he went off as the 2/1 joint favourite with Somersby for the Amlin. However, in typical fashion, he made all his doubters look foolish and the price look massive when running a blinder at the Berkshire track. He jumped imperiously and when asked by jockey, Daryl Jacob, for an effort, he found top gear whilst Somersby, his nearest rival in running wilted. He went on to win the race comfortably by three lengths from Somersby whilst Alan King's Medermit was a further nine lengths back in third.

The win saw the odds of Master Minded winning a first King George Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day cut from 8/1 in to 5/1 where he is set to take on stablemate, Kauto Star, also a winner on Saturday, in the Betfair Chase and the three times King George winner is also a 5/1 (from 16/1) with both sat behind favourite Long Run, who's generally a 6/4 chance after finishing eight lengths adrift to Kauto Star at Haydock.

Nicholls has hinted that Master Minded will have no problem getting the three mile trip in the King George and has suggested that the track will suit him. Whilst Nicholls has not offered any hint of who he thinks is the better of the two, he and Clive Smith, who owns Master Minded and Kauto Star are clearly intent on running the pair.

Somersby
© Racehorse Photos

Somersby
Henrietta Knight, who trains Somersby was delighted with his performance and is also suggesting that her horse too will now be aimed at the longer three mile trip which makes him another likely candidate to run in the King George.

Others who are also likely for the King George include the Phillip Hobbs trained, Captain Chris, who was withdrawn from the Amlin Chase on Saturday when the antepost favourite. The winner of the Arkle Trophy Chase at the Cheltenham Festival back in March will now have to find another race prior to the feature of the Christmas schedule but it is the prospect of Master Minded stepping up in trip and the resurgent Kauto Star taking each other on that is set to dominate the headlines up until the off.

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