By Josh Allen

Champion trainer Paul Nicholls is no stranger to success and in Master Minded he has a six year old capable of producing the goods time and time again.

The gelding made himself a firm favourite with backers last season as he won all four of his races and hopes are high that he can continue that sort of form this time out.

November 15th looks set to be the date upon which Master Minded is unleashed this term, as Nicholls looks to the Connaught Chase in preparation for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown.

“He [Master Minded] worked on Saturday with Kauto Star and worked very well.” said Nicholls.

“The race at Cheltenham is going to fit in great for him, as I was desperate to find a race for him before the Tingle Creek, which is his big target.”

He added: “I didn’t want to run him in the Haldon Gold Cup, so to run him there will get him spot on.”

After experiencing mixed fortunes in his debut season, Master Minded has leaped into the spotlight, following a run of seven wins in eight races, that has included two successive victories in the Queen Mother Champion Chase. During that period he drew praise from a whole host of racing stars, including jockey Ruby Walsh who branded him “spectacular” and owner Clive Smith who said he was “a star”.

Fittingly though, it was Paul Nicholls that lavished the highest praise on his horse. After winning Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase in January, he described Master Minded as “the best I’ve trained, and probably the best I’ll ever train”.

When you consider that Nicholls also has Denman and Kauto Star in his yard, it’s plain to see why he’s rated so highly in terms of horse racing betting odds which is exactly why he should be backed for even more success this season.