Big Zeb remains on course for the 2011 Queen Mother Champion Chase. (credit: thisisbrighteyes)
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Colm Murphy has admitted he is delighted with Big Zeb ahead of the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham next week.
Murphy will be hoping that his stable star can defend his crown in the Festival feature and hold off the likes of Master Minded and Somersby on Wednesday week.
Big Zeb was last seen tasting defeat behind Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage Chase but Murphy believes that the ten-year-old is ready to provide him with yet another huge Festival victory, just a few years after Brave Inca gave him Festival glory in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Champion Hurdle at Prestbury Park.
"I can't wait to see him back on some nice ground, he loves it," Murphy explained.
"He's a different horse on better ground, absolutely. I don't know if there's any more pressure going into the race this year as the champion. It's nice pressure.
"It was the same with Brave Inca, it's nice to be in this position."
Also speaking on Tuesday, Master Minded’s owner Clive Smith explained: "Big Zeb is a very talented horse and if the going gets better it will suit Big Zeb more. We'll be doing very well to see him off and beat him, but I hope that we will.”
