Master Minded heads Queen Mother entries

Racing: Master Minded is among 24 entries for the Grade One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and aiming to become…

Racing:Master Minded is among 24 entries for the Grade One Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase and aiming to become only the second horse to win the €358,000 two-mile championship three times, following Badsworth Boy in the 1980s.

The seven-year-old is one of five entries for champion Jump trainer Paul Nicholls along with Free World, I'msingingtheblues, Takeroc and Twist Magic.

A strong Irish entry of seven includes the 2009 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor Forpadydepasterer as well as Big Zeb, who was travelling well when falling four out last year, the 2006 victor Newmill and Tranquil Sea, already a winner at Cheltenham this season following his victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on November 14th.

The smart novice chaser Sizing Europe has also been given an entry.

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Well Chief, the 2004 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy victor and twice runner-up in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase, has been entered by David Pipe.

Voy Por Ustedes is no stranger to Festival glory having captured both the 2006 Irish Independent Arkle Trophy and the 2007 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase.

Alan King's charge has been entered once more for the latter contest and is also one of 43 entries for the Grade One Ryanair Chase, in which he finished second last year as the odds-on favourite.

Other notable entries for that race are the Queen's Barbers Shop, the 2008 RSA Chase victor Albertas Run and Poquelin, successful over the course and distance in the Boylesports.com Gold Cup last month.