Trip no problem for Minded says Nicholls Paul Nicholls is confident Master Minded will stay two and a half miles in the John Smith´s Melling Chase at Aintree on Friday. The French import steps up in trip following his brilliant victory over two miles in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham last month. "He had improved enormously and he did look very good that day. If he reproduces that form he will be hard to beat," said the Ditcheat trainer. "I´ve got no worry with the trip. Ruby (Walsh) hasn´t, he thought he wanted two and a half. I don´t see two and a half miles at Aintree on decent ground being a problem to him. "We haven´t been that hard on him since Cheltenham. He´s been nice and fresh and well. He doesn´t need to improve. I´m very happy with the way he is and he schooled well earlier in the week," Nicholls told At The Races. Voy Por Ustedes, beaten 19 lengths in second place in the Champion Chase, renews rivalry with connections hopeful the extra distance will suit the Alan King-trained gelding. "He´s in great shape and Alan´s been pleased with his preparation since Cheltenham," said Barry Simpson, racing manager to owner Sir Robert Ogden. "He´s stepping up in distance. It´s a bit of a learning curve for us. We´re going to go further anyway at some point and he may well be running over three miles eventually so we´ll just see how we get on." Monet´s Garden is among a field of seven but he has also been declared by trainer Nicky Richards for tomorrow´s totesport Bowl Chase. The line-up is completed by Tamarinbleu, Mister McGoldrick, Yes Sir and sole Irish raider Newmill.
