Master Minded towers over his Champion Chase (3.20) rivals as he bids to become the first chaser to complete a hat-trick in the two-mile championship since Badsworth Boy 25 years ago.

The Favourite
Brilliant when winning here in 2008 and a clear best (won by seven lengths) when retaining his crown last year, Master Minded lines up here at his longest price for two years, although he's still odds-on - 10/11 best with Totesport. That's because his crown is not resting so easily on is head this time round after an injury restricted campaign - a fractured rib required rest until the Game Spirit in February and even his most ardent admirers would admit his air of invincibility has gone. However, he looked in far better shape in his warm-up in the Game Spirit, surviving a near calamitous error at the last to win impressively, and while some his rivals could have won have won that as well, he must take all the beating with a clear round.

The Dangers
The biggest danger has to be Kalahari King (9/2 across the board), whose CV reads an impressive five wins from eight runs over fences (runner-up in the other three), which includes an excellent reappearance win off top weight when his trainer Ferdy Murphy reckoned he was only 80 per cent fit. Last season, he confirmed himself one of the best novices around when just losing out by a short head to Forpadydeplasterer in the Arkle and then coasting to an eight-length win in his next race at Aintree. Has a bit to find with Master Minded on the ratings (12lb inferior) but one suspects the gap is closing.

Twist Magic is currently rated second best in the 2m division after two runaway front-running wins (going right-handed) and his trainer Paul Nicholls reports him a reformed character this season and not that far behind his stablemate Master Minded. So why can we back him at 7/1 (general)? Well, based on his previous runs at the festival (two falls and a submission from three attempts), he should be 100/1 and it remains to be seen whether he can get it right where it really matters.

Big Zeb (9/1 Ladbrokes) might have beaten Master Minded at Punchestown last April had he not clouted the last and won his warm-up for this impressively enough. However, jumping is his Achilles Heel and contributed to his downfall in this race 12 months ago. Forpadydeplasterer (9/1 bet365) looks a far safer conveyance of our money as he never seems to run a bad race - chase form of '12221222'. However, he hasn't won this season and his recent setback wouldn't have done him any favours.

Long shot
It's hard to see him winning but the veteran Well Chief (33/1 Ladbrokes) loves it round here (2004 Arkle winner and three-time festival runner-up) and could run into a place if one or more of the better fancied runners disappoint.

Key Stat
Three of the last favourites failed to complete the course, but the five who did get round collected four wins and a second.

Verdict
If you believe Master Minded is back to his brilliant best, then he's a certainty. He's a bigger price than both of the other Nicholls hotpot, Auto Star and Big Buck's, yet has fewer obstacles to negotiate and is a straightforward ride. Lump on at 10/11 if you must but I pinned my colours to the mast of KALAHARI KING back in January (on at 10/1 ante post) and I'm not going to desert him now. Only a top class chaser could have won the way he did last time at Doncaster and the air of confidence emanating from his trainer, who knows how to get one ready for the festival (eight winners), is enough to convince me. If you're not already on, then 9/2 is still fair (5/1 on Betfair), although he's worth a look in the in-running market as he will sit well off the pace before being produced between the last two.