Dual winner Master Minded and last year’s hero Big Zeb are among a field of 11 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday.
With no horses withdrawn at the 48-hour final declaration stage, a vintage renewal of the premier event in the calendar for two-milers (3200m) can be expected.
Master Minded could only finish fourth to Big Zeb 12 months ago when sent off 4-5 favourite in his failed bid to be the first horse since Badsworth Boy in 1985 to win the race three years running.
However Paul Nicholls’ charge has been back to his best this season, winning all three starts.
Champion trainer Nicholls has a useful second string to his bow in the progressive Woolcombe Folly.
Big Zeb leads a team of four Irish challengers as he attempts to retain his crown.
Colm Murphy’s gelding was surprisingly beaten at his latest start by Golden Silver but connections are not concerned about that.
Golden Silver was only sixth last year but is also in better form thanks to a change of tactics by the Willie Mullins stable.
Eddie Harty’s Captain Cee Bee and the 2010 Arkle Trophy victor Sizing Europe complete the Irish raiding party.
Nicky Henderson is double-handed with French Opera and Mad Max, while Henrietta Knight’s Somersby runs in this race in preference to the Ryanair chase and did get within a short head of Master Minded at Ascot in January.
The Nick Williams-trained Cornas and David Pipe’s I’m So Lucky complete the line-up.
PA
