Master Minded is way too short for my liking in today’s Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.20), and Forpadydeplasterer looks cracking each-way value to spoil the party.
Tom Cooper’s eight-year-old showed tremendous battling qualities to get the better of Kalahari King in last year’s Arkle and is reported to be in terrific nick following an injury scare which nearly ruled him out of the contest.
He looked superb and put in some spectacular leaps in a schooling session at Leopardstown two weeks ago and has connections report that he has thrived since.
Charlie Chawke, head of the Goat Syndicate who own the horse, was very upbeat about his chances when I spoke to him last week and said he couldn’t wait to take on dual winner Master Minded in the £320,000 event.
He said : "Pady is working very well and will be ready come the big day. Bring on Master Minded!"
That’s fighting talk, and many will be quick to point out that the horse was beaten a long way by Master Minded’s stable companion Twist Magic when last seen on the track in the Tingle Creek at Sandown.
However the soft going was totally against Pady that day, and he was the only one to give the winner any sort of race despite hating the ground. Connections were very pleased from the run and Tony McCoy was far from disappointed.
The key to the horse is definitely good ground. He is a stone better horse on it as he proved when winning last year’s Arkle.
He travels well, stays well, jumps well and the faster they go the better he is. I find it impossible to see him finishing out of the frame, and cannot for the life of me see why he can be backed at almost double the odds of Kalahari King.
If he hadn’t had the injury scare I am sure that he would have been near enough second favourite for this contest and I am happy to stick with him against the jolly.
Recommended bets (already advised ante post): 5pts each-way Forpadydeplasterer (16-1), 5pts each-way Forpadydeplasterer (10-1 b/w/o Master Minded), 5pts each-way Kalahari King (8-1)
