Master among 21 entries for Champion

Dual winner Master Minded heads an entry of 21 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on March 16.

The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old is bidding to become only the second chaser to win the two-mile championship three times, following Badsworth Boy (1983-85).

Master Minded could only finish fourth behind the Colm Murphy-trained Big Zeb in last year's renewal but Clive Smith's chaser has looked back to his best this term following a breathing operation, having recorded a pair of facile victories in a Grade Two chase at Ascot and in the Grade One Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase at Prestbury Park in December.

Nicholls, who is chasing a fifth Champion Chase win, has also entered the progressive Woolcombe Folly, who notched an impressive victory in a Cheltenham handicap chase at The International, Grade One winner Tataniano and Tchico Polos.

Big Zeb himself has also been in imperious form this season with a pair of wins over the Willie Mullins-trained Golden Silver, most recently in the Grade One Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown on December 29th, while last year's Arkle victor Sizing Europe, representing Henry de Bromhead, is also among the eight Irish-trained entries.

Henrietta Knight, who sent out Edredon Bleu to a thrilling victory in the 2000 renewal, may be represented by Somersby.

The seven-year-old, who also has the option of contesting the Ryanair Chase, is on course to make a third successive appearance at The Festival, having come home third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2008 and gone down by three quarters of a length to Sizing Europe last year.

On his latest start, Somersby stayed on well to take third behind Master Minded in the Tingle Creek.

Knight said: "Somersby gets on well at Cheltenham but I don't know which race he will go for at The Festival at the moment. He is probably more likely to go for the Ryanair Chase as things stand but it all depends on the ground, which other horses are going for the race and what happens between now and then.

"He is either going to run in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot next weekend or he is going to Kempton for a two and a half-mile graduation chase on February 11. We will know more about which Cheltenham race to go for afterwards.

"I was very happy with his run in the Tingle Creek Chase but he seemed to get himself into a bit of a state going out onto the course. He did the same at Aintree last year under Robert Thornton and I think that we will get on him after he's got out on to the course in future. He's not particularly naughty - it's more a case of anxiety.

"Calgary Bay has also been given an entry in the Ryanair Chase but I don't know whether he will go to The Festival. The aim is to go for the Grand National with him and he will probably have one run beforehand, possibly in the Sky Bet Chase at Doncaster on January 29."

Like Somersby, Master Minded also features in the 46 entries for the Ryanair.

He is one of five entries from Paul Nicholls' Ditcheat yard. Last year's runner-up Poquelin, The Nightingale, Noland and Breedsbreeze are the other four.

She could also be represented by Calgary Bay, while Nicky Henderson has a four-strong entry in the shape of Long Run, Punchestowns, Riverside Theatre and Jack The Giant.

There's a strong Irish entry with Arkle winner Sizing Europe in there along with Tranquil Sea, J'Y Vole, Forpadydeplasterer, Roberto Goldback, Glencove Marina, Barker, Kempes, Quiscover Fontaine, Golden Silver, Scotsirish, Captain Cee Bee, Joncol, Psycho, Rare Bob, Made In Taipan, Zaarito and Ruby Light.

A pair of entries from Tom George consists of Grade Two winners Nacarat and Tartak, while Imperial Commander's trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies could rely on this season's Paddy Power Gold Cup hero Little Josh and Mahogany Blaze.

Colin Tizzard may also be double-handed courtesy of recent Grade Two Tigmi Travel Dipper Novices' Chase scorer Hell's Bay and Hey Big Spender, who beat the Paul Webber-trained Edgbriar in a novices' handicap chase at Cheltenham last season.

The Emma Lavelle-trained Crack Away Jack also thrives around Cheltenham, having triumphed in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle at The Festival in 2008 and come home a fine fourth in the Stan James Champion Hurdle 12 months later, while Gauvain scored on his first start for new handler Nick Williams when taking the Sinbad Testimonial 2010/2011 Chase at The Open on November 14.

Deep Purple recorded a pair of Grade Two success last season before finishing fourth behind Albertas Run at The Festival, while Weird Al enjoyed an unbeaten novice season over fences last term, including a brace of victories at Cheltenham and a Grade Two triumph at Wetherby.

Exciting novice Medermit, runner-up in the 2009 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, may represent trainer Alan King and the entry is completed by Prince De Beauchene from the stable of Howard Johnson and the Gary Moore-trained pair of Panjo Bere and Vino Griego.