Master class from Ruby as champion retains his crown

13 April 2012

Master Minded put in an exemplary round of jumping despite not being at his best to land a second Queen Mother Champion Chase and complete a Cheltenham day two treble for jockey Ruby Walsh.

Paul Nicholls's chaser won by seven lengths from Well Chief, running a spectacular race after a two-year absence, and Petit Robin to land odds of 4-11 on a great day for favourite backers.

Master Minded wasn't as impressive as 12 months ago in the blue riband event for two-mile chasers but Walsh had his rivals covered all the way on the Clive Smith-owned six-year-old.

Walsh, riding his fourth winner of the meeting, said: "I wouldn't say he was as good today as he can be. He's just a very, very good horse. Good horses always win on an off day."

Nicholls, saddling his first winner at the Festival this week, said: "If we look after him we can keep coming back and winning. You only need to get them ready to perform at a level to win. We just wanted him to win the race.

"He's got a little lazy but he jumps great. But it was a wonderful run by Well Chief in second."

Walsh had earlier landed substantial gambles on a pair of Willie Mullins-trained horses in Cooldine and Mikael D'Haguenet.

Cooldine, backed down to 9-4 from 9-2, ran out an impressive 16 length winner of the RSA Novices' Chase ahead of Jessica Harrington's 66-1 outsider Horner Woods and Massinis Maguire to earn a 10-1 quote for next year's Gold Cup from William Hill.

Walsh said: "I love this horse. He's a heart as big as a lion and jumped like a stag. He's a hell of a good horse."

Sir Alex Ferguson's What A Friend was under pressure some way from home and faded to finish last.

And the bookies were hit equally as hard in the Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle when Walsh and Mikael D'Haguenet justified support from 4-1 into 5-2 by beating Karabak and Tony McCoy by a length and three quarters.

Mullins said: "He has a huge, high action and on better ground today he let his action flow as though he changed his stride. Very few horses can do that.

"Ruby has booked the ride on him over fences. He said that to me already after riding him in Naas. He said this could be a Gold Cup horse." Walsh added: "He's a machine. He had a look at the second last, but when they closed up around him he just came back on the bridle."

The day opened with success for local trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies's Tricky Trickster. The 11-1 shot was winning for the Million In Mind Partnership syndicate.

Master class from Ruby as champion retains his crown

Read More