All 11 horses go to post for the sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham on Wednesday with last year’s hero Big Zeb and dual winner Big Zeb among the contenders.
With no horses withdrawn at the 48-hour final declaration stage, a vintage renewal of the premier event in the calendar for two-milers can be expected.
Master Minded could only finish fourth behind Big Zeb in this race lat year, 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 on 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.
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