Nicholls stars head to Aintree Paul Nicholls has given the green light for both Master Minded and Kauto Star to run at Aintree´s Grand National meeting. The Queen Mother Champion Chase winner and the Gold Cup runner-up were each put through their paces at Ditcheat yesterday morning and after consultation with owner Clive Smith, the decision has been made to run both. Kauto Star will take in the totesport Bowl over three miles and a furlong and Nicholls said: "Kauto worked really well with Andreas, who´s likely to run in the Red Rum Handicap Chase rather than the Melling. "I wanted to work Kauto with something sharp, and Clifford, (Baker, head lad) was very happy with him. "I passed on the news to Clive and told him the more I look at the totesport Bowl the more I think he´ll run a fantastic race. There is no reason not to run him." Gungadu will also line-up in the Bowl but no decision has been made on whether Turko will run in the National or stick to the Mildmay Course. Master Minded will face a maximum of 13 rivals in the John Smith´s Melling Chase on his step back up to two and a half miles. The five-year-old finished second in a Grade One event at Auteuil over that trip on his last run in France when ridden by Ruby Walsh. Nicholls told the Racing Post: "He worked with Takeroc and I couldn´t be more happy with either of them." The champion trainer also revealed that Coral Cup runner-up Kicks For Free is likely to tackle Inglis Drever in the John Smith´s Great Float Social Club Liverpool Hurdle on Thursday.
