Racing:Golden Silver gained revenge on Big Zeb with a narrow success in the Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.
The Willie Mullins trained nine-year-old had finished behind Big Zeb on the two previous occasions that they had clashed this season but received a fine ride from Paul Townend to collar the favourite on the run to the line.
Townend had held Golden Silver at the rear of the five strong field in the early stages of this race with his mount looking out of sorts, making mistakes at the first two fences.
However, he nursed the triple Grade One winning chaser into contention and gradually picked off his rivals one by one. Golden Silver was still a length down jumping the last but produced his best leap of the contest at that fence to launch down a strong challenge in the short run to the line and prevailed by half a length in a driving finish.
"We've got close to him before but never beaten him," Townend said. "They went a good gallop and it was just a case of letting him find his way. I thought we'd let them get a bit far in front of us but he put his head down, winged the last, and galloped all the way to the line.
"He deserves to go to Cheltenham but that's up to Willie. He's doing everything right, anyway."
Big Zeb had raced well within himself in fourth, tracking Scotsirish and Sizing Europe before Barry Geraghty drove the reigning Queen Mother Champion Chase winner into a clear lead turning for home.
However, Geraghty soon had cause to shake the bridle at the son of Oscar who would have preferred a quicker surface and he couldn't repel the challenge of his old rival.
Sizing Europe was having his first run since finishing second to Kauto Star at Down Royal in November and travelled well but had no answer when the pace quickened and was readily left behind.
William Hill were quick to react regarding the Queen Mother and slashed Golden Silver's price in half from 14-1 into 7s.
Big Zeb was eased out to 4-1 from 11-4, meaning Master Minded hardened to 2-1 from 9-4.
Totesport re-introduced Golden Silver at 8-1, having previously taken him out of their betting, and also cut him into 10-1 from 14s for the Ryanair.