Masterful performance in Melling Master Minded bounced back to something like his brilliant best with an impressive performance under Ruby Walsh in the Grade 1 John Smith's Melling Chase at Aintree. The dual Champion Chase hero was well beaten in last month's renewal of the two-mile Grade 1 at Cheltenham, and was sent off at 11/2 stepping up to two and a half miles. However the Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old jumped and travelled with the panache of old and was still hard on the bridle turning into the straight, with his rivals all hard at work. Once Walsh pressed the button, Master Minded quickly put daylight between himself and his rivals and he eased clear after a good jump at the last to secure a nine length win over Albertas Run (11/4fav). Somersby (5/1) was half a length further back in third, while the Irish-trained pair Tranquil Sea and Made In Taipan were soundly beaten. Nicholls said: "He's much better over a trip. It's great now we can step up a bit with him. We'll aim him for the King George now and we have a different horse to have a crack at Long Run with now. "My idea is, he is the horse next year. Kauto (Star) has been there and done it. He was given a peach of a ride by Ruby. He was brilliant." Nicholls added: "We've trained him a little differently this year, basically tweaking a few little things like working him with slower horses at home. We know now he wants more of a trip so in hindsight I probably should have run him in the Ryanair. "He'll have a holiday now and he'll go for the same race he won at Ascot over two and a half miles and then the King George. When he's at his best he's a really good horse." Walsh said: "They went a really good gallop. It was a competitive race. He travelled lovely in behind them and he came on the bridle strongly when we turned out the back. It was a case of not going too soon on him. He picked up well, jumped the last well and quickened all the way to the line. "It was a disappointing run at Cheltenham but probably in hindsight two miles is too short for him now. He wants to go further and I imagine the King George will be his target. He was very good today over two and a half so I suppose you have to try it now. "You won't know if he will stay until he goes three miles. It's probably a natural progression for him. If he doesn't stay he can always go back for the Ryanair at the Festival. He's a wonderful horse and the step up in trip has helped him." Mick Meagher, racing manager to Albertas Run's owner Trevor Hemmings, said of the runner-up: "It was another good run and the horse doesn't owe us anything. There's only Punchestown left and he could go there unless we finish him off for the season."
