Amlin 1965 Chase at Ascot Looks a Two-Horse Race

We've got several contenders in the Cheltenham short field that will likely be finding themselves going over timber at the big one in March.

We've got Alberta's Run set to go here as well as fan-favourite MASTER MINDED. Even warhorse hanicapper Kinkeel looks set to make a bottom-weight appearance and is priced as high as 500/1 with various bookmakers. 

The big question here for punters is whether this one comes down to Albertas Run and Master Minded, as many of us expect it will. Should that be the scenario on the run-in, then you've got to ask yourself how much of a factor Alberta's prep race for this one will turn out to be. He ran fourth in the Old Roan the other week and he also drops back a furlong this time out. He's got a course and distance reference as well yet is still only second favourite in terms of the current prices on offer. 
 

Master Minded has won on the lay-off before at Grade 1 level so should be able to tackle this one nicely. The Paul Nicholls-trained specialist chaser is obviously 

going to view anything less than a trophy at Cheltenham to be a serious disappointment. His loss to Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase was, arguably, the worst result of his career and the current betting seems to be indicating that this should be viewed as a blip instead of some long-term trend. 
 

Chaninbar, Panjo Bere and I'msingingtheblues all look a step or two below these talented chasers so avoid them on the each-way unless you fancy Master or Alberta to fall or be pulled up as we're only looking at two paying places in this one. 
 

There will likely be a few cheeky bets from old friends of Kinkeel but considering his OR is less than half that of Master Minded, you reckon that we'd have to be running a little closer to Christmas for that kind of miracle to unfold.