PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL:THERE MAY be €2.7 million worth of prize money up for grabs over the next five days, and 11 Grade One races, not to mention some of the country's great and good among an overall attendance exceeding 100,000 people, but for star quality nothing can compete at Punchestown today with Master Minded.
Considering Master Minded’s jockey Ruby Walsh will be on board all three favourites in today’s Grade One highlights that is a big statement. But Walsh is a Punchestown regular: having this undoubted king of the two-mile chasing division is a true bonus for Ireland’s National Hunt festival.
Britain’s champion trainer Paul Nicholls maintained all along since Cheltenham that he wanted to run Master Minded in the €200,000 Kerrygold Champion Chase if ground conditions were suitable and put owner Clive Smith’s money where his mouth is last week by supplementing the champion for €20,000.
The result is the chance for Irish-based racing fans to see a truly exceptional horse in the flesh. Just five opponents take him on including two former winners Mansony (2007) and Newmill (2006.) However, they look like being mere bit players in a Master Minded solo-show.
Admittedly the most compelling evidence for Master Minded’s supreme dominance still comes from just over a year ago with that stunning defeat of Voy Por Ustedes in the 2008 Queen Mother Champion Chase. Three unbeaten starts so far this year concluded with a second championship success at Cheltenham that might not have been as flamboyant as 12 months previously but was still completely comprehensive.
On whatever piece of evidence you take, however, it doesn’t appear to contain much hope for a major turnover today. Even at his best Mansony would barely get within shouting distance of a fully-functioning Master Minded while Newmill is very much a light of former years. Conna Castle and Watson Lake are accomplished performers but have never got near the level of form required to turn over the British-based star.
All of which leaves Big Zeb as the one most likely to put it up to the favourite. The Colm Murphy team were left frustrated at Cheltenham by Big Zeb’s fall at the top of the hill but since it came on the back of another tumble around here in February, there remain serious question-marks about the horse’s jumping.
Admittedly a defeat of Psycho over hurdles at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago will have helped Big Zeb’s confidence but even if everything goes A1 perfect, there is nothing in his form to suggest Big Zeb can ruffle Master Minded’s feathers.
Having said that, the only thing that seemingly could ruffle the French-bred over two miles is the sort of gale normally only seen around Cape Horn, or maybe, just maybe, the sight of one of his next door neighbours at the Nicholls yard, Kauto Star.
Since Clive Smith owns the two of them, it’s a lot longer odds about that happening than the price Master Minded will start at today. However, just as at Cheltenham this doesn’t look an occasion to get financially stuck into one: instead it is an opportunity to watch a great champion in his pomp.
