Master Minded is the banker of all bankers to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham tomorrow. Paul Nicholls's superstar is not only the hottest favourite at the Festival for many years, but is also the highest-rated chaser in training.

The handicapper has Master Minded 21lb better than his nearest rival for this two-mile contest and understandably bookmakers have run for cover making the six-year-old a prohibitive 2-7, a price only the big-hitting gamblers will get involved with.

The son of Nikos has been faultless in his two starts this term when winning the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December and Ascot's Victor Chandler Chase six weeks later, and a clear round would surely see Master Minded become the first horse since Viking Flagship in 1995 to win this race in successive seasons.

A word of warning for those who like statistics, the last nine reigning Champion Chasers met with defeat the following year.

However, such is his dominance, the bookies have formed a separate market by betting 'Without Master Minded.'

Basically, wherever the reigning champion finishes is irrelevant. This allows punters who believe that Master Minded (below) is unbeatable to still have a bet without having to take ludicrously short odds.

Whichever way you look at this race it has Nicholls stamped all over it, as his second string Twist Magic has a serious chance of completing a one-two.

The seven-year-old has two ways of running, either full of enthusiasm which has seen him so far bag three career Grade 1 races, or he doesn't want to know.

Last time out at Kempton in December, Twist Magic put in a lifeless performance but the champion trainer is confident that won't be the case tomorrow.

He said: "When he returned home after that run we found he had problems with his feet, but we have sorted those out now."

It would make things interesting if Twist Magic were to reproduce his run behind Master Minded in the Tingle Creek when travelling as well as his illustrious stablemate in second place until falling at the penultimate fence.

Twist Magic's most recent success was in the Kerrygold Champion Chase at Punchestown last season, where previous Champion Chaser Newmill finished in arrears.

The 2006 winner returns for tomorrow's race as the lowest rated of the 12 runners and the long odds reflect his chances.

The Irish have a much stronger challenger in the guise of Big Zeb.

Colm Murphy's star looked a surefire winner last time at Punchestown, but took a crashing fall two out. He is clearly progressive but rated 8lb below Twist Magic. Despite this difference, bookies still make Big Zeb favourite in their alternative market.

Well Chief attempts to make a fairytale return to action here following a 698-day absence, but trainer David Pipe admits that the 10-year-old has spent most of his time swimming in a bid to regain fitness. In his glory days Well Chief was rated 178 but now down to 162 and this looks a tall order.

The only other runners that could seriously be considered as adversaries to Twist Magic in the race for second are Briareus and Petit Robin.

Andrew Balding's Briareus failed to stay three miles last time in the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day, but had previously shown himself a chaser with promise when beating I'msingingtheblues over two miles at the same track the previous month.

While the Nicky Henderson-trained Petit Robin has to be in the shake up for the places after running a very respectable second to Master Minded at Ascot last time, albeit 16 lengths adrift.

Apart from Master Minded, everyone of these runners has unanswered questions, be they stamina related, lack of experience, prowess over the fences or strength of form.

But the one horse to have shown himself among the best in the last 12 months is Twist Magic and he can complete a 1-2 for the all-conquering Nicholls team.