Racing: Master Minded edged out Somersby after an epic battle for the Victor Chandler Chase. The 4-7 favourite looked set for a comfortable success when jumping to the front four out and Tony McCoy looked round for dangers turning in.
He saw Somersby being ridden along by Hadden Frost but that rival stuck doggedly to his task and began to close the leader down between the last two.
Master Minded produced a fine leap at the last and that proved vital for the runner-up closed to within a short-head in a driving finish.
It was fully 20 lengths back to Mad Max in third.
"He did well to win," McCoy said, "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."
Nicholls added: "I was half pulling my hair out a bit earlier as some of them are running really well and not finishing their races. I'm pleased enough with that and we'll get him fresh and well now for Cheltenham."
Owner Clive Smith said: "It didn't do my heart much good, it's still pumping now."
Knight said of the runner-up: "We've done a lot of work on his jumping and he's not been the easiest to train because he jumps with his head in the air a bit.
"He was fluent today, but it's hard because he has a very sensitive mouth so we have to use a mild bit on him. 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 at all really.
"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 two options and we have decisions to make (Ryanair or Queen Mother)."
Sky Bet reacted by pushing Master Minded out to 9-4 for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham while Somersby was cut to 10-1 for the two-mile championship and to 6s from 8s for the Ryanair Chase.