Master expected to improve for Newbury

Published: 8 February 2010

Paul Nicholls believes the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday will do Master Minded "the world of good" after his break.

Clive Smith's seven-year-old suffered his first defeat since April 2008 in the Connaught Chase at Cheltenham in November, after which it was discovered he had been running with a fractured rib. He has been back in work since early January but Nicholls admitted he will improve for the run.

"He hasn't been back in work all that long from his fractured rib but I'm happy with him. Whatever he does, the run will bring him on enormously," said Nicholls.