Cheltenham Festival:Barry Geraghty is confident Big Zeb can put up a strong defence of his crown when he bids to repeat last year's victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham today (3.20pm).
The 10-year-old's jumping came in for criticism in some quarters prior to the 2010 renewal, but he was foot-perfect for Geraghty as he dethroned dual winner Master Minded with a fine display.
And the Irish jockey makes no secret of the fact that Colm Murphy's gelding is one of his best rides for the week.
"He has to be one of my best rides of the week. I've been looking forward to riding him again on good ground," said Geraghty. "It won't be easy - there's Somersby, Captain Cee Bee, Woolcombe Folly and Sizing Europe - but he should be the one to beat.
"People still say he is a dodgy jumper but he hasn't touched a twig for the last two years and all being well he should be the one they all have to aim at.
"Master Minded has to be respected as a former champion. He got a bit of a shock at Ascot last time against Somersby but I think Cheltenham will suit him better. I hope we can uphold last year's form."
Murphy reports Big Zeb to be in prime condition.
"He's very good and has travelled over well. I couldn't be happier with him so it's fingers crossed," said the Co Wexford trainer. "There's a lot of unknown quantities in the race this year such as Somersby and Sizing Europe, who has won an Arkle and will love the good ground.
"It's certainly not just a two-horse race, there's half a dozen in with a chance. He just needs the run of the race."
Since his disappointing display when only fourth last year, Master Minded has appeared a different horse following a breathing operation in the summer.
After victories at Ascot and in the rearranged Tingle Creek at Cheltenham, he was made to pull out all the stops by Somersby at Ascot last time, but Paul Nicholls expects better on this better surface.
"I've been confident all along Master Minded has a chance," said champion trainer Nicholls. "He's a dual Champion Chase winner. He was struggling with his breathing last season, we sorted that out and he has won three out of three this season.
"He was very impressive on goodish ground at Ascot, then on goodish ground in the Tingle Creek.
"He then just struggled on very soft ground at Ascot, when he wasn't at his very best. He's a different animal now he can breathe and he's obviously got a great chance."
Nicholls has an interesting second string in Woolcombe Folly, a winner of handicaps at Ascot and Cheltenham this season.
"I've been staggered with what Woolcombe Folly has done this season, the time he won in last time was as quick as Master Minded in the Tingle Creek," he said. "The one thing is he goes well fresh and drying ground will help. He's been unbelievable."
Golden Silver finally got the better of Big Zeb at the sixth attempt at Naas last month though his trainer admits his two disappointing previous efforts at Cheltenham temper enthusiasm.
"He has run at the Festival twice before. The first year he didn't travel well and last year I think we might not have used the right tactics," said the County Carlow handler.
"His Cheltenham form is not good but I'm just hoping this year things might be different. Paul (Townend) and him seem to have got on really well and I think the way the race will be run will suit the horse and the way Paul rides him.
"The ground would be a bit of a question mark because he's shown how good he is in testing conditions. His form is good, but there's some negatives I think."
Last year's Arkle hero Sizing Europe returns to the scene of his finest hour.
The nine-year-old was trained as a stayer early in the season but is now back at the minimum distance and trainer Henry de Bromhead is hoping for the best.
He said: "I hope that the return to two miles around Cheltenham will suit him.
"He started the season racing over further, but he probably just had too much time to think about the fences and we think that he is a better horse when he is jumping at speed.
"You would imagine that if he reproduced the level of form that he showed at the Festival last year, then he would have a serious chance. He is in great form."
Eddie Harty's Captain Cee Bee disappointed when favourite for the Arkle and still needs to prove he is up to competing at the highest level having been well beaten by Big Zeb and Golden Silver last time.
"He is in good form at the moment and I am very happy with him," said Harty. "If he improves as he normally does between winter and spring, then he is going to be competitive and that is all you can ask for at the Festival."