CHELTENHAM: Opponents of Master Minded are well aware they may be gunning for second place only in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today.
The favourite is seeking to become the first horse since Viking Flagship in 1995 to win back-to-back renewals, having trounced 2007 hero Voy Por Ustedes by 19 lengths 12 months ago.
Master Minded was an impressive winner of the Tingle Creek and the Victor Chandler this season and is still only six, so he could well try to emulate Badsworth Boy, who is the only horse ever to win the Champion Chase three times.
Owner David Johnson has Well Chief running after a long lay-off, but admitted: "We are just keeping our fingers crossed. We are all running for second prize money really, although we can't stay away because of one horse."
Those sentiments were echoed by Nicky Henderson, who is trying to remain positive about Petit Robin, who was put his place when second to Master Minded at Ascot in January.
He said: "He's got a chance, but we are all facing one horse who is going to be very difficult to beat. We have to be positive and see what we can do."
Andrew Balding is delighted to have Tony McCoy on Briareus, but is another well aware of the task and added: "We may be running for place money, but it's very good and we'd be delighted if he did run into a place."
Willie Mullins said of Scotsirish: "He was running a good race in the Arkle last year before he made a mistake, and I just thought we would be going for place money here. If the ground stays dry that would be a big help for him."
Owner Graham Wylie believes Santa's Son has been underestimated despite having won the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on only his second run for Howard Johnson.
He said: "I wouldn't put people off him. He won very well in the Castleford and he's almost a two-and-a-half-mile horse, which is ideal. He's certainly fresh and he'll certainly go off at quite a pace."