Big guns stand ground in Champion Chase

The leading contenders have stood their ground for the sportinbet.com Queen Mother Champion Steeple Chase.

Last year's winner Big Zeb and 2009 Champion Master Minded are on target to cross swords at the Festival for a third successive season with the latter's trainer, Paul Nicholls, also set to be represented by the progressive Woolcombe Folly.

There has been some doubt cast on the participation of Henrietta Knight's Somersby who ran Master Minded close at Ascot last time as he could be re-routed to the Ryanair depending on underfoot conditions but the eight year-old could still line up in the two mile championship.

A four strong Irish challenge is made up of Golden Silver, previous Festival winners Captain Cee Bee and Sizing Europe along with the reigning Champion, Big Zeb.

Nicky Henderson has left French Opera and Mad Max in the race with the entry completed by Cornas and I'm So Lucky.