Master heads a field of nine Nine runners are due to face the starter for the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday - topped by Master Minded. Twice hero in the Champion Chase and enjoying a fantastic start to the campaign, he destroyed his rivals in the Amlin 1965 Chase before following up in equally impressive style in the Tingle Creek at Cheltenham. Five horses that took him on in the latter event reoppose this weekend, with Petit Robin (second), Somersby (third), I'm So Lucky (fourth), Gauvain (fifth) and Kalahari King (seventh) bidding to reverse form. Master Minded's trainer Paul Nicholls will also saddle Tchico Polos, while Petit Robin's handler Nicky Henderson also fires two shots at the race as he also runs Mad Max. The latter was last seen finishing sixth in the Vote AP Gold Cup at Cheltenham and his owner, Paul Murphy, believes the switch to Ascot will be in his favour. He said: "He's been running at Cheltenham over two-miles-five this season and I think a return to a flatter track could help him. "He was running a cracking race in the Arkle last season until he hit the second-last. "We'll know more about what to run him in at Cheltenham after this weekend. If he runs well it will probably be the Queen Mother." Crack Away Jack is an interesting contender for Emma Lavelle, making his comeback from injury after over a year on the sidelines.
