Murphy has big plans for Big Zeb

Racing: Colm Murphy is excited by the prospect of seeing Big Zeb defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham …

Racing: Colm Murphy is excited by the prospect of seeing Big Zeb defend his Queen Mother Champion Chase crown at Cheltenham next week.

The trainer thinks a return to a faster surface will see the 10-year-old in a different light after his defeat by Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage Chase.

"I can't wait to see him back on some nice ground - he loves it. He's a different horse on better ground, absolutely," said the trainer.

Even though Murphy has only been training just over 10 years, he is no stranger to Cheltenham success, having won a Supreme Novices' and a Champion Hurdle with the indomitable Brave Inca.

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And he will be drawing on that experience as the meeting gets closer.

"I don't know if there's any more pressure going into the race this year as the champion,” he added. “It's nice pressure. It was the same with Brave Inca, it's nice to be in this position."

Big Zeb is a general 3-1 chance to win back-to-back renewals behind 9-4 favourite Master Minded, who is going for a third win in the race.