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2008 Cheltenham Festival

By Cindy Pierson Dulay, About.com

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2008 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase

2008 Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase

Ruby Walsh and Master Minded clear the last fence to land the 2008 Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase run at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Julian Herbert/Getty Images
Just 8 horses lined up at the start in the £310,000 Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase (G1) for 5-year-olds and up going 2 miles over 12 fences. 3-1 second choice Master Minded stalked the pace set by 7-2 third choice Tamarinbleu for the first 6 fences, then moved up to take over the lead at the 7th fence, drawing off through the stretch to an impressing 19 length victory over 5-2 favorite Voy Por Ustedes. It was a long 16 lengths back to 12-1 Fair Along in third. The running time was 3:55.80.

Winning trainer Paul Nicholls said, "He's awesome for a 5-year-old. He jumped absolutely brilliantly and he traveled well. He's obviously a hugely talented horse, just incredible. I can look forward to tomorrow now."

Jockey Ruby Walsh added, "He's some horse, he's only a five-year-old. That was fabulous every step of the way. They went one hell a gallop and he was running away everywhere. He's a machine."

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