Master Minded has been back schooling over fences as he prepares to return to the racecourse in the totepool Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Saturday week.

The winner of the last two runnings of the Queen Mother Champion Chase suffered an unexpected reverse to Well Chief back at Cheltenham in November.

He hung noticeably right through the race and trainer Paul Nicholls subsequently identified a fractured rib in the seven-year-old.

He started cantering again in January and owner Clive Smith has been watching his progress.

"I went down last Thursday and all the horses looked very well," said Smith.

"Since then, Master Minded has been schooled over fences and he seems to be going OK. He's coming out a week on Saturday so we're obviously hopeful he'll be OK.

"He wasn't ridden for a month - he did a lot of walking - but now he's back."

Smith, also the owner of Kauto Star, has only a little more than a month to wait before his horse challenges stablemate Denman in the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the third time.

"We just hope they're fine until Cheltenham now," he added.

"Kauto is in good shape, and I believe Denman is, so fingers crossed they both get there."