Nicky Richards is preparing for an emotional afternoon at Aintree on Saturday as he takes Monet's Garden back to Merseyside to parade before the Old Roan Chase.
The bold-jumping grey recorded his third victory in the Grade Two contest in 2010 which proved to be his final racecourse appearance, with a hoof infection forcing his retirement - and also threatening his life.
The 13-year-old eventually made a full recovery and will be back in the parade ring this weekend prior to the newly-named Betfred Monet's Garden Old Roan Chase.
"I was half-thinking I'd missed the entries and I should be running him!" said Richards.
"He's all polished up and ready to go and I think he's looking forward to it.
"It will be quite emotional taking him back to Aintree, but hopefully there will be an awful lot of people happy to see him.
"He has a great following in Liverpool and has made a few friends, so it will be nice for them to see him again.
"I'm sure it will be a nice day."
Meanwhile, Owner Clive Smith feels everything is in Master Minded's favour as he makes his eagerly-awaited return to action.
Champion trainer Paul Nicholls had a late change of heart over where the eight-times Grade One-winning chaser would begin his season, as it had been thought he would be heading for Ascot next month for the Amlin 1965 Chase, but as that is the same day as the Betfair Chase at Haydock, Ruby Walsh would have had to choose between riding Master Minded or his beloved Kauto Star.
Master Minded looked back to his imperious best when last in action over two and a half miles at the Grand National meeting, and the first half of his season will be built around a crack at Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Long Run in the King George over three miles at Kempton on Boxing Day.
Smith said: "He's in very good shape and Paul was pleased with how he worked on Thursday morning. We think this is a nice prep race for him and probably actually fits in better time-wise than the race at Ascot on November 19.
"It also means we have Ruby, of course, which is a big plus. We'll see how he gets on. We know he likes the track and the trip, so everything looks to be in his favour. It would be nice to give Long Run some opposition in the King George, but we'll take it one race at a time."
Master Minded faces just two rivals, with Jonjo O'Neill's Albertas Run reopposing having been firmly put in his place in the Melling Chase.
Completing the field is Peter Bowen's Pure Faith, who is the best part of 2st out of the handicap.
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