MASTER Minded will be declared as an intended runner in tomorrow’s Betfred Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at Aintree later on today.
The dual Champion Chase winner scored over course and distance on his last appearance of the season when landing a wide-margin success in the John Smith’s Melling Chase at the Grand National meeting in April.
And now connections have given him the go-ahead to to Merseyside this weekend, as he builds up to a possible crack at the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day.
The Paul Nicholls-trained eight-year-old will conceding weight to all his rivals in the Grade Two handicap, but owner Clive Smith thinks it is the ideal race for Master Minded to start his season.
Smith said: “I’ve spoken to Paul and we’re definitely going, which is great news.
“I love the Flat racing but when you own jumpers, this is what it’s all about and I can’t wait to get started. Master Minded worked this morning and is in good shape, so we look forward to Saturday.”
Nicholls, though, will be double-handed in the Old Roans as he confirmed on Twitter that fellow Tataniano will instead run in the toteexacta Handicap Chase at Chepstow on the same day.
Meanwhile Paul Hanagan’s hopes of winning the jockey championship for a second successive year has been boosted with the news that title rival Kieren Fallon will be in Australia to ride in the Melbourne Cup on November 1.
Six-times champion Fallon has enjoyed an excellent second half to the season, but will miss the British action at the start of next month in favour of a trip Down Under.
Fallon’s agent, Terry Norman, said: “Kieren will be going to ride in the Melbourne Cup. Ride to be confirmed tomorrow (Friday).”
Hanagan is currently nine ahead of Fallon and six ahead of nearest challenger Silvestre de Souza, who is currently suspended.
Coral pushed Fallon out to 7-1 from 4-1 to be champion jockey, while Hanagan is 1-5 from 2-7 to retain his title. De Sousa is a 7-1 shot. Coral’s David Stevens said: “Paul Hanagan was already odds-on to win back-to-back titles, and the news that Kieren Fallon will now be heading Down Under during the final week would appear to signal an end to the latter’s title challenge.”
TODAY’S NAP: Red Alpha (3.10pm Doncaster).
