Master Minded tops Ascot treble for Noel Fehily

Master Minded

In theory the ride on Kauto Star in the King George VI Chase at Kempton next month is still up for grabs however Noel Fehily did his cause no harm at Ascot.

The rider, whom Paul Nicholls believes most closely resembles the style of stable jockey Ruby Walsh, rode a treble for Nicholls highlighted by a winning return for Master Minded in the Grade Two Amlin 1965 Chase.

The two questions about Master Minded were whether the breathing operation that had been performed after his lacklustre run in last season’s Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March – where he finished fourth to Big Zeb – had had the desired effect and would he stay the two-mile, three-furlong trip having blown out over two-and-a-half miles at Aintree two seasons ago.

The breathing appeared to be no problems as Master Minded attacked the fences with relish and there was no real test for him past the two-mile mark when Albertas Run fell three out, leaving Fehily to bring Master Minded 16 lengths clear of I'msingingtheblues, leaving Nicholls to sing the praises of both horse and jockey. “He travelled brilliantly, he jumped brilliantly and he obviously got the trip,” Nicholls said. That’s just what you want him to do and Noel gave him a fantastic ride chuffed to bits.

“It’s a lot of pressure riding these horses and he goes out there – in an unassuming manner – and does a great job. That’s just the job now and we’re back in business. If he can breathe now, and that gives him confidence, he could be a different horse.”

The Tingle Creek Chase, at Sandown Park in a fortnight, is next for Master Minded although the King George VI Chase could be a possibility “one day” according to Nicholls. However the business at hand for that race this year is Kauto Star’s attempt at a record-breaking fifth win in the race and Fehily has moved to the top of the list being considered by Nicholls and Clive Smith, who owns both horses, and when asked whether a final decision had been made Nicholls said: “Not yet, but it’ll make things easier after today. Clive and I will sit down and talk about it but Noel’s done no harm today.”

A crashing fall on Albertas Run for AP McCoy – his third of the day – did enough harm to the jockey’s right shin to have him stood down for the rest of the day, so Wayne Hutchinson took the ride on Karabak in the Grade Two Coral Ascot Hurdle. But even McCoy at his mesmeric best could not have done much about Silviniaco Conti, who beat Karabak by seven lengths with Zaynar back in fourth.

It is quite possible that neither Karabak nor Zaynar ran to their true for but Silviniaco Conti looks an interesting prospect over this intermediate distance. A step up to three miles looks unlikely, with stable companion Big Buck’s ruling the division, and Fehily thought he could prove a potent force over shorter distances. “Very exciting,” he said. “He could get further in time but, at the moment he’s quick enough for two I think.”

The treble came up when Woolcombe Folly won the Carey Group Handicap Chase.

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