Ascot stroll is on the cards for Master Minded

Barring the type of mishap suffered by jockey James Davies, who was unseated just yards from the winning line at Taunton yesterday, Master Minded should run out a comfortable winner of tomorrow's Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot.

The highest-rated National Hunt horse in the world faces a straightforward task against just four opponents, but the race will be of little interest to punters with the Paul Nicholls-trained six-year-old being offered at odds of 2-7 by the sponsors.

Nicholls is using the £140,000 contest as a stepping stone to Master Minded defending the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March, with Newbury's Game Spirit Chase on 7 February being the final stop before the Festival.

The small field has been met with dismay by the sponsors and the prospect of Master Minded strolling to victory will hardly get Victor Chandler the desired headlines.

The race has seen some tremendous renewals over the years with Desert Orchid's battle with Panto Prince in 1989, when the grey prevailed by a head despite conceding 22lb to the runner-up, and Azertyuiop failing by a neck to give Isio 19lb in 2004, two of the most memorable.

But last year the contest was upgraded to Grade 1 status with all horses carrying the same weight and, with the likelihood of Master Minded mopping up the prize in the coming years, the continued backing of Victor Chandler must be in danger.