Min camp must decide if Altior awaits again after another easy Dublin win

A subdued atmosphere filled Leopardstown's winner's enclosure after a Ladbrokes Dublin Chase that was won easily by Min but which will be remembered most for the loss of Special Tiara.

It was early in the contest, without even a fence jumped, that the former Champion Chase hero sustained what proved to be a fatal injury. His death was not confirmed until well after the race but the expectation of grim news to follow meant Min was not roared to victory - although it was perhaps not a performance that merited such a reaction anyway.

That is not in any way to detract from Min, who did what he had to with ease. There was, however, perhaps not much that had to be done, with Simply Ned a non-runner having banged himself, Castlegrace Paddy a first-fence faller and Ordinary World and Saint Calvados proving nowhere near the class of an eight-year-old whose connections have a decision to make.

Min is miles too good for Ordinary World and Saint CalvadosCredit: Patrick McCann

Last year the decision was much easier. Min was every bit as impressive when sauntering to glory in the inaugural running of the Dublin Chase. He went on to the Champion Chase and was put in his place by Altior, as he had been two years earlier in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Now Rich Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh must determine whether Min should have a third crack at Altior or instead seek potentially easier pickings in the Ryanair Chase, for which he is ante-post favourite at between 4-1 and 6-1 with those firms not offering non-runner-no-bet concessions.

"I think he got a fright when Castlegrace Paddy fell," said Mullins, raising the subject of some indifferent early leaps. "At the first down the back he propped and stopped but then Ruby got him jumping and into a rhythm. After that it was only a matter of waiting until he got over the last and giving him the office."

Asked what will come next, Mullins noted Min has "a lot of doors open to him". Altior might be blocking one of those doors but Ricci is never inclined to duck a challenge.

"We'll play to the horse's strengths and see where we go," he said. "Min has a lot of ability and he seems to be stronger and less keen this year. That's a nice stepping-stone.

"Altior is a great horse but you never know. I wouldn't mind taking him on again in the Champion Chase."

Walsh, who would also have Footpad as a potential ride in the two-mile championship, arguably sounded a little less enthused by that idea.

"Min is a bit like Exotic Dancer," he said. "Exotic Dancer was a very good horse but he kept running into Kauto Star. Altior is Min's Kauto Star. Without him he would have won a Champion Chase and a Supreme Novices' Hurdle."

Does that mean Walsh would recommend swerving another encounter with Altior?

"How many times do you bang your head against a wall?" was his response.

That's what Walsh thinks. A final answer from the Min camp may still be a little way off.

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