Geraghty: Zeb display up there with Moscow Flyer
Big Zeb won by an astonishing six lengths and, though he has threatened to be top class, this was a performance we didn’t see coming.
He led home Forpadydeplasterer for an unexpected 1-2 for Ireland.
Big Zeb was always tracking the pace and arrived full of running downhill to the last bend.
Geraghty nudged him ahead early in the straight and the response was explosive. Big Zeb lengthened in fine style, shooting right away to beat Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King.
If anyone knew what it took to win a Champion Chase it was Geraghty, associated, of course, for so long with the great Moscow Flyer.
He said: “It was a great performance. He jumped well all year, he ran no race at Sandown, but other than that, has been very good. He didn’t jump well that day.
“I always knew I had enough horse under me and that it was going to take a very good one to get by.
“He had a good look around after the last and I thought was going to pull himself up, but he found plenty when it was needed.
“I wouldn’t say he’s as good as Moscow Flyer, but today was certainly as good a performance as Moscow put in.”
Big Zeb’s trainer Colm Murphy is best known for winning the Champion Hurdle four years ago with Brave Inca.
Murphy said: “He has had his bad days and made stupid mistakes, but everything went well this year.
“He shouldn’t have gone to Sandown, but we are learning about the horse every day. It was the manner in which he did it that was great. He’s a proper horse now. Barry was bullish about beating Master Minded at Punchestown last year and I thought he was mad.
“He was dead right and has struck up a really good relationship with the horse, he takes a bit of knowing.”
Tom Cooper reported of Forpadydeplasterer: “He had a very mixed preparation, but it had nothing to do with today’s defeat.
“I would have liked a stronger gallop, it made the difference between winning and losing.
“Tony (McCoy) said the faster horse beat us on the day. We wanted a lead and hoped Twist Magic would do that job.”
