Big Zeb left his rivals trailing at Punchestown

Big Zeb is back among the leading contenders for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March after a fine Punchestown victory on Sunday.

Barry Geraghty oozed confidence on the Colm Murphy-trained horse, who won the Tied Cottage Chase by seven lengths.

Odds-on favourite Golden Silver, under Ruby Walsh, had to settle for second.

Big Zeb, who was fourth behind winner Twist Magic when favourite for the Tingle Creek Chase in December, is now as low as 5-1 for the Champion Chase.

"We'll freshen him up and then it's on to Cheltenham, it's nice to be going over there on the back of that," said Irish trainer Murphy.

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"We probably shouldn't have sent him over to the Tingle Creek (at Sandown) - I blame myself for that.

"His jumping was brilliant and we've done a lot of schooling with him at home."

Dual champion chaser Master Minded and Twist Magic, both trained by Paul Nicholls, are the market leaders for the big race at the Cheltenham Festival on 17 March.

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