Battling Big Zeb completes Fortria hat-trick
Big Zeb, ridden for the first time by Robert Power, won the Fortria Chase for the third consecutive year while Voler La Vedette (Andrew Lynch) proved a facile winner of the Lismullen Hurdle.
Having tracked front-running Forpadydeplasterer and jumping particularly well, Big Zeb, which was usurped as favourite by Noble Prince, eased into the lead soon after the third last fence and responded to Power’s driving when pressed by the favourite and the longtime leader at the last.
Big Zeb scored by two lengths from Noble Prince (receiving 5lb.). Murphy declared: “That’s a dream start. I’m thrilled to bits. It’s a relief, great to get it out of the way. He had a good blow and the race should leave him spot-on for Christmas. He jumped great and settled well, He has grown up a lot.”
The trainer admitted: “The Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown is his Cheltenham this season. If all goes well there, we’ll take the next step.”
Murphy earlier nominated the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse in three weeks as Voler La Vedette’s next assignment, following the mare’s smooth success over Fully Funded and Mikael D’Haguenet in the Lismullen Hurde. “She’s stronger and easier to train this year — we’ve had a great run with her,” Murphy explained. “She settled very well and Andrew gets on so well with her. She’s been in great form at home, almost too well. She gets two and a half miles well and is entitled to have another crack at a Grade 1.”
Local trainer Noel Meade and the season’s leading rider Davy Russell were also in double form, combining to win the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle with Il Fenomeno (13/8 favourite), which stayed on strongly to beat stable-companion Dylan Ross.
Meade admitted: “It’s not ideal running two good horses against one another, but I backed myself into a corner. I thought they’d finish first and second but, maybe, in the other order. They’re both very good horses.
“The winner is a tough horse. Davy said he could have jumped better but he’ll definitely run in the Royal Bond next. The other horse could go there too, or might go a different route.”
Meade completed his double when Formidableopponent, in the colours of J P McManus, justified odds-on favouritism in the bumper, recouping debut losses at Punchestown, where he “needed the run, was too fresh, ran keen and got tired”, according to his trainer, who will now send the Arakan gelding over hurdles.
Davy Russell followed-up his win on If Fenomeno with an all-the-way success on Bog Warrior, also owned by Gigginstown House Stud, in the beginners chase.
Bog Warrior produced a spectacular display of jumping to win in great style and is entered for the Drinmore at Fairyhouse, although trainer Tony Martin was slow to commit him to that event,
Willie Mullins registered his fifth success of the weekend when Boston Bob landed odds of 4/11 in the opening maiden hurdle, the trainer’s first winner for new owners Graham and Andrea Wylie. Mullins said: “He’s a very nice recruit. I expect him to have a good novice hurdling campaign and I won’t be afraid to go anywhere with him.”
