----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave McAuley" 
Newsgroups: uk.sport.horseracing
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: Paul Nicholls best bet


> So, according to the Post Paul Nicholls is more excited about one of his
> runners on Saturday than Denman and Five Dream - what do you think.
> Looking at his stable tour comments, quotes and entries I think it's
> Master Minded who he appears to fancy for the Queen Mother and who
> crucially has been clipped a few points in the last few days for that
> race.
>
> Lovely addition to the string; you´d never think he was only four. Hewas
> one of the leading young chasers in France in the spring, bought byClive
> Smith days before running second in their top novice chase at Auteuil,
> over 2m4f in May. He showed plenty ofpace that day, and won´t mind
> stepping back to 2m. I´m looking at a 2m1f graduation chase at Exeter in
> December as an ideal starting point, and he can progress from there.
>
> 05 Jan 2008  Sandown (16GS,RPR156)
> Paul is always looking to the future and will regard Master Minded as one
> to look after, but I tend to think if they are good enough for Cheltenham
> now, why not. I think we should look at the Champion Chase. I like to see
> my horses in the best races and I remember having a good one in the past
> called Hawthorn Hill Lad. I felt he should have gone to Cheltenham in 1989
> but missed it and five weeks later he was dead. - Clive Smith, owner; He
> will probably go for the Game Spirit so we can see how good we are. - Paul
> Nicholls, trainer

Very closely rated with VPU on my numbers too and the 6lb he gets could make
the difference IF he handles the step back in distance from 2m 4f.