Banking on Big Zeb
The prospect of a sound surface is a real positive for Big Zeb and, as long as the ground does not deteriorate, he looks to be the banker bet of the week for the Irish. The Champion Chaser has jumped better than ever this season and I would have no hesitation in saying that, despite being beaten only once in a very profitable campaign at home, Big Zeb has been performing within himself all season long.
The ground is the absolute key to this horse at this level of competition and, provided it’s in his favour, he can surpass all previous form. Master Minded, twice a winner of this race, has bounced back to form this season, but he retains none of the air of invincibility he once diffused and may have to settle for minor honours.
I can safely say that I have an aversion, bordering on an allergy, to the Pertemps Final but I’ve had a horse on my mind for this race for some time and can’t seem to shake the idea that it could win this race with its mouth open.
The beast in question is the Willie Mullins trained Sivota, which looks distinctly like it’s been brought along steadily with this race in its eye-line all season long. Three miles is a very long way over hurdles — especially at Cheltenham — and I can recall many, many gambles going astray in this race, but Mullins continues to prove himself a master in these hotly-contested handicaps and this is another that looks well within his range.
Sivota has seldom raced on good ground but his most impressive form has been reserved for such conditions. The distance is not an issue and I can envisage some improvement for the stamina-sapping trip on such an undulating course.
The Pertemps is undoubtedly one of the most difficult races of the entire week for punters but the prices reflect that and, at double-figure odds, Sivota looks worth an each-way interest.
At the start of the season the World Hurdle would have been billed as a fore-gone conclusion for dual champion Big Buck’s, but the David Pipe trained Grands Crus has appeared out of nowhere to add some spice to the race. Big Buck’s is still the one to beat and, contradictory as it may seem, until he’s actually beaten we may never know just how good he is. He appears to win by doing as little as required and so his level of superiority is, to some extent, unknown.
Perhaps Grands Crus is the horse to fully test his mettle, but to rank this as a two-horse race might be overlooking the fact that there are others in the race capable of finding the improvement to give it a real go.
Mourad, some might note with surprise, is still only six years of age. Willie Mullins’ Grade 2 winning hurdler was a fast-finishing third behind Zaynar and Walkon in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle, but he bypassed last season’s Festival.
He’s returned in better form than ever this season and, even if the balance of form suggests its uncertain, his trainer firmly believes he will improve for better ground. Arriving here fresh after just three outings this season, he has the capability to make up into a star stayer for years to come and, given that the level of opposition outside of the top two in the betting looks quite surmountable, he holds huge claims of getting into the frame.
Whether or not he can make that leap to really challenge Big Buck’s this season is open to debate but you should never be afraid of one horse. Mourad has genuine place claims, at the very least, and will give punters a real run for their money.
Best of the Irish:
NAP: Big Zeb — Champion Chase, WednesdayE/W: Sivota — Pertemps Hurdle, ThursdayLong-shot: Mourad — World Hurdle, Thursday
