Twelve in Tingle Creek Contention
2.12.2009
Master Minded will miss out on the Tingle Creek through injury, leaving Big Zeb to head a potential field of twelve.
The Cheltenham Champion Chase favourite will be out of action until February after suffering a stress fracture of the tenth rib. The news was a blow to horse racing tips followers everywhere but actually came as a relief to trainer Paul Nicholls, who was desperate to find out what had spoiled the gelding's return to action, when only managing third in the Connaught Chase.
Speaking in the Racing Post on Saturday, Nicholls said: "It's such a relief to have got to the bottom of the problem. He will now spend the next month on the walker and come back into training at the start of January, when we'll aim to get him ready for the Game Spirit at Newbury."
The injury has certainly not put off ante-post punters and Master Minded is still as short as 3.4 for the Champion Chase at the Cheltenham festival with second favourite, Big Zeb, a 5.7 shot.
This Saturday's Tingle Creek at Sandown will provide Big Zeb with his first real test of the season, as he takes on Master Minded's conqueror, Well Chief. There is also plenty of quality further down the field, which includes 2007 winner Twist Magic and the promising five year old Crack Away Jack.
Big Zeb won on his last outing and is the current 2.64 favourite for the race, with Well Chief 4.6 and Twist Magic 5.1. Crack Away Jack was also a winner on his seasonal reappearance and looks good each way value at 22.0
Other potential contenders include Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer, available at 9.4, and the Willie Mullins trained Barker, who can be backed at 17.0.
With Master Minded missing, the race represents a great opportunity for any one of these horses to make a name for themselves. The big star may be out but few will mind, if, by 3pm on Saturday, a new star is born.
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