A short-head margin over Somersby was enough for Paul Nicholls' star to drift to best-price 5/2 (Victor Chandler), with many promoting Big Zeb into favouritism.
Master Minded scraped home by the skin of his teeth as Somersby, who was in front just yards after the line, came of age with a career best performance. Master Minded had travelled comfortably behind the early pace setters and produced a fine leap to jump alongside the leaders at the eighth and was in front at the ninth at which stage he could have been expected to go further and further clear and McCoy did take a look between his legs going into the second last.
He looked leg-weary going to the last though and it was to his credit that he was able to produce a fine leap at that fence and that probably made the difference between victory and defeat as he was all out to the line. This was far from impressive but the yard has been going through a quieter spell than usual whilst McCoy felt that he made too much use of him coming out of Swinley Bottom and that Master Minded tired on the ground.
Arkle runner-up Somersby ran his best race of the season with a sterling performance that bodes well for the future. He had made mistakes in the Haldon Gold Cup on his reappearance and made a bad mistake when third behind Master Minded at Cheltenham last time but he jumped fluently here and landed running after the last to throw down a sustained challenge with his customary strong finishing effort.
His performance certainly caught the eye and he is now best-price 10/1 (888sport) for the Champion Chase. Henrietta Knight's charge also has the Ryanair Chase as an option at the Festival for which he is as short as 7/2, although he can still be backed at standout best-price 6/1 (Skybet) for that race.
Kalahari King was almost carried off the track a riderless horse, but he stayed on really well to take fourth place and Ferdy Murphy is targeting the Ryanair Chase for his stable stalwart. Having finished third behind Big Zeb in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last March, Murphy feels the step up in trip will suit:
"He was unlucky at Ascot. We're not sure where he would have finished up, but Graham (Lee) said they got racing too soon at Swinley Bottom and he still had plenty of horse under him," said the West Witton trainer.
"He reckoned he lost about 40 lengths when the horse carried him across the track. He has really run on up the straight and we're very pleased with him. Graham said it was the best feel he got off him since he won at Doncaster last February. He jumped fantastic. Graham said he travelled great.
"He's grand. We had him in the indoor school at seven o'clock on Sunday morning and he had a nice roll. I'd imagine he'd go straight for the Ryanair now."
Kalahari King is currently best-price 16/1 (totesport and Paddy Power) for the Ryanair.
Meanwhile, Grandouet is now a clear favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle after winning earlier on the Ascot card.
Nicky Henderson's French import has looked a vastly improved performer since settling better having been re-fitted with the earplugs that he wore in France. He eased alongside the front-running Two Kisses between the last two hurdles and came six lengths clear without being extended.
The four-year-old is set to run in the Adonis Hurdle at Kempton next month before heading to Cheltenham and is now best-price 7/1 (Bet365) for the Triumph Hurdle.
Also at Ascot, Sparky May continued her relentless progress with a Grade Two victory.
Pat Rodford's star was unbeaten in three novice hurdles this term coming into the Mares' Hurdle and simply ran her rivals ragged under Keiran Burke.
In in complete command turning in and despite beginning to tire going to the final hurdle, found plenty on the run-in to slam even-money favourite Carole's Legacy by four lengths.
Rodford said: "She must be a freak. Her mother raced in the US where she was unsuccessful, and owner Bill Muddyman sent me her (Glassy Appeal) and two other mares to breed from.
"Just occasionally you get a horse that defies all logic and here you have one. We will now go for the David Nicholson race at Cheltenham."
She can now be backed at best-price 8/1 (888sport) for the David Nicholson Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.
Away from Ascot, earlier in the week, last season's Champion Bumper second Al Ferof made it third time lucky over hurdles in impressive style at Taunton to set himself up for a crack at the Cheltenham Festival.
The six-year-old, who runs in the colours of John Hales and is trained by Paul Nicholls, can be backed at best-price 20/1 (Bet365) for the Neptune Novices Hurdle and best-price 16/1 (Stan James) for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.
Master Minded beat Somersby at Ascot but drifted to best-price 5/2 for the Champion Chase
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