RACING:COLM MURPHY believes everything Big Zeb does from now on will be a bonus and judged by the 2010 Horse Of The Year's Navan success yesterday those bonuses look like being fat.
The former two-mile champion chaser completed a hat-trick of victories in the Grade Two Fortria Chase, beating off both Noble Prince and Forpadydeplasterer in an exciting finish, and indicating he could just be as good as ever.
Regaining the Champion Chase title next March from Sizing Europe may be a big ask at the age of 11 but Big Zeb attacked yesterday’s task with an enthusiasm that thrilled his trainer.
“He’s an amazing horse and he’s really well in himself. He still seems to have that spark,” said Murphy. “Christmas (Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown) is the plan and as for Cheltenham, talk to me after Christmas. We’re in bonus time now, and this is a relief more than anything else.”
Both a rejuvenated Forpadydeplasterer and the young pretender Noble Prince put it up to the old hero yesterday but Big Zeb gave them weight and enough of a beating for some firms to cut him to as low as 4-1 for Cheltenham.
Robbie Power, riding the horse for the first time, merely had to bustle him up in the closing stages to win by two lengths to complete a Grade Two double for Murphy.
Earlier Voler La Vedette had too much for Fully Funded and Mikael d’Haguenet at the end of the Lismullen Hurdle and the ultra-consistent mare could now get the chance to land an elusive Grade One prize in the Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse next month.
“She settled like a lamb today and she gets two and a half really well so that looks the obvious one. The Morgiana comes a little bit quickly,” Murphy said.
Davy Russell is setting a formidable pace at the top of the jockeys’ standings this season and he completed another double for the Gigginstown team yesterday, headed by Il Fenomeno’s defeat of his stable companion Dylan Ross in the For Auction Novice Hurdle.
“I didn’t think we’d be first and second and I thought it might have been the other way round. But the winner is tough. And he’s good because I know the other horse is good too,” said Noel Meade who completed a double of his own in the concluding bumper as Formidableopponent scored under Nina Carberry.
Il Fenomeno was a Group Three winner in his native Italy but Bog Warrior has followed the traditional Irish bumper route and looks a very decent fencing prospect after making all the running in the Beginners Chase.
The well-known colours of English owner Graham Wylie were carried to an easy odds-on success in the two and a half mile maiden hurdle by Boston Bob.
Lovethehigherlaw, winner of the Punchestown Champion Bumper in May, suffered a fatal injury on Saturday morning. The five-year-old gelding, tipped for an exciting hurdling campaign, died at trainer Willie Mullins’ yard.
