Kauto Star and Master Minded are both on course to run at Aintree next week following a change of heart by trainer Paul Nicholls.

Master Minded, officially the best chaser in training following his devastating victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, has the Melling Chase as his target where he will clash again with Cheltenham runner-up Voy Por Ustedes.


PREMIERSHIP ACCUMULATOR
Top 4 to Win - Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all to win - A £10 bet returns £45
Place your first bet and we'll match it up to £20  

In the event of Master Minded running in the 2m4f contest, Kauto Star would switch to the Totesport Bowl over 3m1f after originally being pencilled in for a drop in trip after his defeat to Denman in the Gold Cup.

Nicholls had planned to wait until Punchestown with Master Minded, but told the Racing Post: "The drawback is that the ground can turn a bit quick by then, and he's so well we'd be silly not to look at the Melling.

"Master Minded worked with Kauto this morning and he's in the form of his life.

"Kauto Star will entered in both. If he went to Aintree I had been favouring the shorter race, as I didn't want him to be subjected to a slog so soon after the Gold Cup.

"But at this stage it looks like being goodish ground, and there may not be too many runners in the Bowl, so it makes sense to look at that option as well."