Master Minded has been eased to 2/1 (from 5/2) at the head of the market for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase by totesport after he scrambled home in the Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot this afternoon. Watch the race…

Runner-up Somersby has been cut to 7/1 (from 20/1) by totesport for the same race whilst he is now the 9/2 joint-favourite (from 8/1) for the Ryanair Chase.

“Master Minded made very hard work of landing the spoils at Ascot and although he remains favourite for the Champion Chase for the time being, his position at the head of the market could be vulnerable in the coming weeks,” said totesport spokesman George Primarolo.

Grandouet is the new 15/2 favourite (from 11/1) for the JCB Triumph Hurdle with totesport after sluicing up in the Ascot Annual Badgeholders’ Juvenile Hurdle by six lengths.

William Hill also cut Master Minded’s Championship odds out to 5-2 from 7-4. The eight-year-old was always travelling supremely, putting in some spectacular jumping displays throughout, before almost being collared on the line by his finishing pursuer, rewarding Paul Nicholls with a third successive victory in the event.

William Hill chopped Henrietta Knight’s gallant performer from 25-1 to 9-1 for the Championship two-mile event, in addition clipping him into 9-2 second-favouritism from 8-1 for the Ryanair Chase.

Lucy Rhodes, spokeswoman for William Hill, said, ‘We’ve become used to Master Minded strolling to success with lengths to spare this season, however another cosy victory was not to be with scintillating Somersby pushing him right the way to the finish in a real spine-tingler .’

Queen Mother Champion Chase: 5-2Master Minded, 7-2 Big Zeb, 7-1 Woolcombe Folly, 8-1 Somersby, 10-1 Sizing Europe, 12-1 Tataniano, 14-1 Captain Cee Bee, Golden Silver, 16-1 Forpadydeplasterer, 25-1 Gauvain, 33-1 Crack Away Jack, French Opera, J’y Vole, Mad Max, Petit Robin, 40-1 Tchico Polos, 50-1 BAR (E/W 1/4 1,2,3)

Tiger O’Toole has been cut to 16/1 (from 40/1) for the totesport Trophy by the sponsors following his victory in the victorchandler.com Holloway’s Hurdle. Runner-up Walkon was also cut to 20/1 (from 33/1) for the stanjames.com Champion Hurdle after trainer Alan King revealed the horse would head straight for the Festival.