Masterminding victory: McCoy takes the blame as Nicholls' horse just makes it

Paul Nicholls was a relieved man after Master Minded held off Somersby by the narrowest of margins in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot. Following last weekend's eclipse of Kauto Star at Kempton, the champion trainer admitted to feeling the pressure before the Grade One event.

Running in the same green, yellow and purple Clive Smith silks as last week's high-profile loser, and ridden by the same man in Tony McCoy, there was the added spice of Nicholls having to field questions about his string being under a cloud during the week.

Everything appeared to be going to plan as Master Minded turned into the home straight in isolation, but his stride began to shorten and Henrietta Knight's Somersby was closing all the time.

However, the dual champion chaser held on by a short head with Mad Max a yawning 20 lengths back in third. William Hill were not impressed and pushed Master Minded out to 5-2 from 7-4 for Cheltenham.

"I'm relieved. I was disappointed initially because turning in I thought he was going to go away and win quite nice and then I was thinking something obviously isn't quite right (with the way the horses are running]," said Nicholls.

"I just said that to AP but he wasn't having any of that, he just said he gave him a bad ride - his words not mine. He said they went a good gallop and he was travelling powerfully and let him roll on too soon which meant he got tired in the ground. The runner-up is a good horse and we are probably not in the best of form. In the spring it will be totally different.

"AP is kicking himself because he said if he'd got beat he wouldn't have forgiven himself. He travels brilliantly and jumps well. Don't forget he's had a breathing operation in the summer and no horse with a breathing issue wants this ground. Come the spring, with the horses in better form, he'll be there again. I've been under a bit of pressure this week with one thing or another as some haven't run as well as they can so it's nice to have a winner."

McCoy said: "He did well to win, they went a real good gallop early on and at Swinley Bottom he came back on the bridle and I let him run when I shouldn't have done - I should have sat and let him fill up more.

"But he's a very good horse, he got a bit tried on the ground and he probably idled a bit."

Knight said of the runner-up: "Master Minded is a super horse and to get so close to him is quite an achievement. It hasn't made the decision which race we run him in at the Festival any easier. He obviously stays well and the hill at Cheltenham will be even more in his favour, but he does love soft ground and you are not guaranteed to get that in March. We have decisions to make (Ryanair or Queen Mother]."