Big Zeb comes good to win Champion Chase

BIG Zeb finally fulfilled his abundant promise with a brilliant display in the Seasons Holidays Queen Mother Champion Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival.

The 10-1 chance has always been held in the highest regard by Colm Murphy but his jumping had previously come up short on a number of occasions. This time, however, there was not a semblance of a mistake as Barry Geraghty's mount cruised into the lead on the turn for home and was kept up to his work to beat Forpadydeplasterer by six lengths. The disappointment was dual champion chaser Master Minded, who could only finish a lacklustre fourth. A delighted Murphy said: "He's had his bad days but everything has gone well. Every day you live with the horse and for him to do this is just magic."

Master Minded's owner, Clive Smith, said: "He didn't assert himself but we'll be back, I'm sure."

Peddlers Cross (7-1) delivered a knockout blow for Donald McCain in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle. McCain said: "After he won his novice hurdle at Bangor, Jason (Maguire) got off him and said he was the best horse he'd ever ridden. He did a piece of work at Bangor last week that scared me to death – it was mind-blowing." Weapon's Amnesty secured back-to-back Cheltenham Festival victories when running amok in the RSA Chase. The highly-touted Nicky Henderson pair of Long Run and Punchestowns were mere spectators as the Charles Byrnes inmate shot clear to win with plenty in hand.

Ferdy Murphy's 14-1 chance Poker De Sivola gave jockey Katie Walsh her first Festival success in the 140th Year Of The National Hunt Chase.

Sanctuaire slammed his rivals by upwards of nine lengths in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices' Handicap Hurdle, giving trainer Paul Nicholls his first win of the meeting and making Walsh the all-time winning-most Festival jockey while Colin Tizzard's 40-1 chance Cue Card won the last.