Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase

1.55 Cheltenham
Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase (Grade 1) (Class 1) (4YO plus)
Winner £34,206

Pick: Masterminded

Gauvain: Went off the boil after winning a Grade 2 Novice Chase 2 years ago, falling to make an impact at Cheltenham and Aintree festival; Won his next 2 starts before being put on side-lines; Showed he retinas all old ability and more when beating Forpadydeplasterer and Tataniano with ease at Open Meeting here; Deserves respect on that basis and one of major player.

I’m So Lucky: Made repaid improvement last year culminating in carer length best Celebration Chase win; Record fresh not inspiring and this totally different test likely to ask too much of him.

Kalahari King: Made fine return last season when winning valuable 2m handicap chase at Doncaster, so disappointing that he was easily beaten last time (not given hard race); Third in Champion Chase last season so must be taken as serious player here.

Kinkeel: Looks out of depth.

Mahogany Blaze: Thoroughly capable horse on his day who has been placed in very good races (including this last season when second behind Well Chief) but has jumping frailties and this looks too much.

Masterminded: Has proven truly outstanding in 2 mile chasers, putting up one of great modern displays when cruising home in Champion Chase of 2008 and proving dominant for best part of year since; Rib injury was thought to be reason behind below par reappearance in Connaught Chase last year and was widely expected to be Champion Chaser for third time, but never able to get in race from 2 out (quick ground blamed); Had wind op and looked back to best when romping home in Amilin 195 Chase but had nothing to beat when Albertas Run fell and this tougher.

Oiseau De Nuit: Was third in the Celebration Chase last backed end and ran a great race first time out this season but more needed than what he gave last time, as this is stronger race.

Petit Robin: Very capable chaser on his day as he showed when winning Desert Orchid Chase over Christmas last year; Hasn’t really held form since but this should be suitable test for a horse that goes well fresh, so cannot be discounted.

Somersby: Impressed on 4 starts novice chasing last season, winning Henry the II Chase in supremly impressive style and running second in the Arkle and at Aintree afterwards; Disappointing that he couldn’t win the Haldon Gold Cup off very favourable weight first time out even allowing for fact he should improve for strong 2m round here and fitness (very strong pace in Haldon Gold Cup tested that); Very much of intrest, with trip on this track seen to suit.

Twist Magic: Brilliant chaser on his day, as he showed last season when romping home in this (when at Sandown) and the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot; Ran badly here again when pulled up in Champion Chase and then refused at Punchestown before running below par in Celebration Chase; Return in Haldon Gold Cup off 173 was right back to his best but record here is only just enough to put one off.

VERDICT: We don’t know whether a defeat of Imsingingtheblues (Albertas Run having fell at the third last) confirms that MASTERMINDED is back to his best, nor do we really know what that is for him nowadays, but a repeat or better of his win at Ascot last time given him an outstanding chance of beating some very useful rivals, the most feared of which are Somersby, Kalahari King and Gauvain.