Master Minded has won the last two Queen Mother Champion Chases

Master Minded will miss his next intended race at Sandown and will be rested for several weeks as tests into his well-being are carried out.

The dual champion chaser is out of the Tingle Creek Chase on 5 December and may not run for three months.

Master Minded was beaten into third behind Well Chief on his seasonal return at Cheltenham on 15 November.

Trainer Paul Nicholls told the Racing Post he hopes the horse can defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase title.

Master Minded will have a bone scan at Newmarket on Thursday in an attempt to establish why he hung badly to the right on his latest run.

Nicholls said his head lad Clifford Baker reported he was not happy with the horse after taking him for a canter on Saturday.

"He was changing his legs at the top of the gallop and hanging desperately right-handed, just like he did when running at Cheltenham the other day," said the champion trainer.

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The six-year-old, who was due to face Well Chief again in the Tingle Creek, behaved in a similar way on Monday.

Nicholls said he discussed the issue with his Somerset stable's vet Buffy Shirley-Beavan, and they decided to send Master Minded to Newmarket for a scan.

"If that reveals anything, we can take the appropriate action," said the Ditcheat trainer.

"If nothing shows up, I'll just have to build him up again quietly and hope things come right for Cheltenham in March.

"Whatever the outcome of the scan. I'll run out of time to have him ready for the Tingle Creek on Saturday week and our main aim will be to get him right again for the Champion Chase."

The news comes three days after stablemate Kauto Star, the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup and triple King George VI Chase winner, won by a nose on his seasonal return in the Betfair Chase at Haydock.

Nicholls is set to saddle the third of his top-rated chasers this Saturday when Denman is due to carry top weight as he tries to regain the Hennessy Gold Cup, which he won in 2007.

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