MASTER Minded is being lined up to make his seasonal reappearance at Aintree this Saturday.

Paul Nicholls’ star chaser was last seen in action at Aintree when landing the John Smith’s Melling Chase in April and he heads the nine entries for this Saturday’s feature, the Grade Two Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase.

The eight-year-old dual Queen Mother Champion Chase winner is being aimed at a step up in trip to three miles for the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. And connections are mulling over starting his campaign on Merseyside this weekend in the 2m4f race won by stable-mate Kauto Star in 2006.

Owner Clive Smith said: “I have talked with Paul about running Master Minded at Aintree and it’s a possibility at the moment.

“We think that it will be a nice race for him and we have won it before with Kauto Star (2006), but it will depend on the going.

“We are trying to avoid having him and Kauto Star running on the same day, which would happen if we went to Ascot for the Grade Two chase on the day of the Betfair Chase – Haydock looks the best option for Kauto Star and we want Ruby (Walsh) to be able to ride both horses whenever possible.

“Master Minded was very impressive when he beat Albertas Run at the course in April but he would be giving him weight this time and it's never as straightforward as converting lengths into pounds.

“The King George VI Chase is the obvious aim for him in the first half of the season but we have just got to see how he is and whether he will definitely stay the trip.”

TODAY’S NAP: Princess Spirit (3.40pm Newmarket)