West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon was thrilled to see Somersby bounce back to his best to chase home Dodging Bullets in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Running at the Festival for the seventh successive year, the gelding was sent off an unconsidered 33-1 chance.

However, the 11-year-old belied those odds with an exuberant display to finish second.

Channon said: “He’s been in great form, it was only really the race at Ascot (Clarence House) where he disappointed.

“He has run pound for pound to his Tingle Creek form and run his race – I’m delighted for everybody.”

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Nicky Henderson said Sprinter Sacre, who was pulled up, would be given a thorough check-up before he could consider any notion of retirement for the former champion chaser.

“His heart is OK, which is the main thing,” said the Lambourn trainer.

Gary Moore felt a brisk surface counted against reigning champion Sire De Grugy, who finished fourth.

And he was unhappy course officials did not apply further water on to the track.

“It’s dead ground,” said the Sussex handler. “Why they don’t water I’ll never know.”