Murphy excited by Zeb defence

Colm Murphy is excited by the prospect of seeing Big Zeb defend his sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase crown a week on Wednesday.

Despite his defeat to Golden Silver in the Tied Cottage Chase, Murphy thinks a return to a faster surface will see the 10-year-old in a different light.

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.

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

"I can't wait to see him back on some nice ground, he loves it," said Murphy.

"He's a different horse on better ground, absolutely.

"I don't know if there's any more pressure going into the race this year as the champion. 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.