Nicholls hoping Master bounces back

Paul Nicholls is keeping his fingers crossed Master Minded can show his true colours in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday.

The dual champion chaser was beaten into third on his first start of the season at Cheltenham, but it later transpired he had suffered a broken rib.

The champion trainer has slowly nurtured his charge back to full health and is hoping for a good performance ahead of his bid for a third Champion Chase crown.

"We'll know on Saturday if we can get him right back to his best. I've been very pleased with what I've seen," said Nicholls.

"Obviously it was good to pick up something was wrong after Cheltenham, if we'd seen nothing we'd have been scratching our heads.

"I have been very impressed with him since he came back into work, he looks fabulous and when he won the Champion Chase two years ago his run before was in the Game Spirit, so it fits in nicely."

Five runners go to post for the Grade Two contest with former Champion Chase and Arkle hero Voy Por Ustedes dropping back to two miles after disappointing in the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

Fix The Rib is an interesting contender for Gary Moore, while Kinkeel and Mahogany Blaze complete the line-up.

Big-race jockey Ruby Walsh was pleased with Master Minded in a recent schooling session - but he too is waiting for him to show his true colours on the track.

"I rode him work last Tuesday and he schooled really well," said Walsh.

"He is such a gentleman of a horse to school it's impossible to know how he is, but Georgie who rides him out all the time is happy with him and Paul is happy, so hopefully the real Master Minded will turn up at Newbury on Saturday."