Paul Nicholls is in bullish mood as Master Minded bids to secure yet another Grade One prize in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.

The six-year-old earned the tag of the highest-rated National Hunt horse in training when slamming his rivals in the Champion Chase at last year's Cheltenham Festival and seemed as good as ever when coasting to victory in the Tingle Creek on his comeback.

Worryingly for his Ascot rivals, the champion trainer believes his charge is an even fitter horse now and is confident he can stamp his class again at the weekend.

"He's in fine form and the slower the ground the better. I don't think he'll necessarily need to be at his very best, but we'll see tomorrow," said Nicholls.

"I've been very happy with him since Sandown and I think he has improved a bit for the run."

With Master Minded as short as 1-4 for the valuable contest, there have been suggestions in many quarters that the famous race should be returned to handicap status in order to make it more competitive.

However, Nicholls does not see this as a major issue and believes it would have little bearing on the outcome of this year's renewal.

"If it was a handicap I'd have run him, because most of them would be running from out of the handicap and would have a mountain to climb anyway. I doubt it would have changed the betting that much," the trainer continued.

"He has an inflated handicap mark and I would have used that against the others, but when you have these good horses, you have to provide good races for them.

"If he's all right after this the plan is to run in the Game Spirit at Newbury in three weeks' time and then go back to Cheltenham, just like he did last year."

Petit Robin takes his chance in the Grade One contest due to what trainer Nicky Henderson reckons is a lack of suitable options and he would have preferred to be getting weight from the favourite.

"The handicapper virtually forced us into where we are now as it was just one run this season and then he was into the 150s," Henderson said.

"We haven't got a lot of option and there is a huge amount of prize-money on offer so we will do the best we can.

"There were so many Victor Chandlers that were really great races with so many good horses running with top-weight.

"I remember Isio and Azertyuiop having a fantastic battle and sometimes it is a bit of a shame to see what looks like a one-sided race.

"But if we have any pretensions of going to Cheltenham we might as well find out now. I don't like finding out now but we have no option."

Connections of Or Noir De Somoza admit the gelding may improve for the run when he makes his British debut and his first start for David Pipe.

The seven-year-old is a multiple Group One winner in his native France and Herve Barjot, racing manager to Irish owner Sean Mulryan, is hopeful he will give a good account of himself.

"He is in very good form at the moment and I think he is ready to go for his first run," said Barjot.

"He has been at David's for the last three months and has settled in well, but it will be his first race over the big fences in England and it will be quite a new experience for him.

"He may need the run and the experience to get used to the new way of running in England, but we still think he will run a good race.

"Master Minded is a very, very good horse and he is going to be hard to beat obviously.

"I think two and a half miles would be a good trip for Or Noir De Somoza and maybe even three miles but we want to test him over two miles first."

Nigel Twiston-Davies concedes Mahogany Blaze has a mountain to climb having been beaten out of sight by Master Minded in the Tingle Creek, but he is hoping he can pick up some place money.

"Mahogany Blaze seems fine but obviously he has an awful lot to do to get near Master Minded," said the Naunton handler.

"But there is a lot of money on offer so why not have a go? I would be delighted if he could run into a place."