Master Minded Profile

Master Minded is an eight-year-old Bay Gelding trained by experienced National Hunt trainer Paul Nicholls. Master Minded is one of the most feared horses currently racing around the National Hunt calendar.

Master Minded was bred between Nikos and Haute Tension (France) providing the horse with perfect genes for long distance jump racing. Master Minded has enjoyed a long career of high quality races and top profile jockeys.

Master Minded's Debut

Master Minded's debut came on January 5 2008 in a 16 furlong race at Sandown Park. Master Minded's debut provided the horse with a maiden win as well as a first win for the horse under Nicholls.

Ruby Walsh rode Master Minded to a solid win by three lengths just in front of an outsider ridden by Tony McCoy. Master Minded's debut showed that the horse is a lively front runner that prefers to sit in behind the leaders and match the early pace.

Master Minded at Cheltenham

Master Minded at Cheltenham produces an impressive, but small, set of statistics. There have been five races with Master Minded at Cheltenham producing three wins and a third place finish.

Master Minded's debut at Cheltenham came in the Queen Mother Champion Chase where Walsh led the horse to victory by a staggering 19 lengths in a field of eight runners.

Master Minded at Cheltenham has performed consistently well over the same length. There are very few horses that are better over a two mile distance than this horse. Master Minded has the experience of racing at Cheltenham in front of the big crowds.

Racing Style of Master Minded

The racing style of Master Minded is classic for a strong and powerful horse over a middle distance race. The majority of races in the career of Master Minded have seen the horse sit in behind the leaders before challenging late on.

The racing style of Master Minded relies a lot on the pace that the leaders in a race set. Master Minded does not have to have the best start to catch up with the leading pack but there have been examples of the horse tiring when forced to run too quickly early in a race.

Master Minded's Record in 2011

Master Minded's record in 2011 has been good. The horse has only raced in one race but this produced a victory over 17 furlongs at Ascot in January. On that occasion Master Minded was strongly challenged in the closing furlongs but managed to stay on and provide another win for Nicholls.

Top Jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival 

Master Minded has always been ridden by top jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival. Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy have been regular jockeys of Master Minded which shows the strength that the horse possesses.

One of the major benefits of having one of the top jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival ride any horse is that they are familiar with horses of all types and different racing styles. Top jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival can often be the difference between winning and losing.