Zeb powers to another big victory
His regular pilot, Barry Geraghty, was on duty at Kempton, but Robert Power proved a more than capable deputy.
Power also partnered Colm Murphy’s charge to score on his seasonal debut at Navan, so his record now on Big Zeb is two from two.
Forpadydeplasterer carried them along, but began to struggling heading to the last and lost any chance when dipping at the back of the obstacle.
Noble Prince was now marginally in front, but Big Zeb had made up a couple of lengths to throw down a strong challenge.
Once at the back of the last there was only going to be one winner, as Big Zeb, winning the race for the third time, lengthened in style and was nicely on top at the line.
Said Murphy: “I’m thrilled to bits, even at ten he still has loads of pace. It is hard to believe he will be 11 in a few days, but seems to be a long way from retirement yet.
“He will now go to Punchestown and then we will let him do the planning. But he deserves the chance to go back to Cheltenham for the Champion Chase.
“He is a much improved horse this year, compared to last, his coat is better and he just looks better.”
Stan James shortened Big Zeb from 6-1 to 5’s for Cheltenham.
The contest was marred by the death of Golden Silver, who took a fatal fall at the fifth. His rider, Paul Townend, was badly shaken, stood down and headed to hospital for an x-ray with a possible fracture of his collarbone.
Townend then missed the winning ride on Edward O’Grady’s Cash And Go in the other Grade 1 on the card, the paddypower.com Future Champions’ Novice Hurdle.
Andrew Lynch replaced him and was certainly seen to advantage, driving Cash And Go past the front-running, and odds-on, Sous Les Cieux early in the straight.
Dylan Ross was soon in the winner’s slipstream, but he’s a bridle horse and just didn’t battle as well as Cash And Go on the run-in.
Commented O’Grady: “That is not a big surprise, we were very hopeful. He probably won’t run again before Cheltenham and I would like to go for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. This is a nice young horse and we will have to look after him.”
Tony McCoy, who found himself on the deck aboard Sportsmaster in the first, dusted himself down to win the second contest, the paddypower.com Android App. Maiden Hurdle, on O’Grady’s The Way We Were.
Willie Mullins’ Aupcharlie was all the rage to leave a disappointing effort at Thurles behind and was backed from 2-5 to 30-100. But he is rapidly becoming one to avoid and found little for Andrew Lynch pressure, after McCoy had gone for home off the final turn.
Said O’Grady: “Don’t ask me where he will go next, but we won’t be aiming too high. He will probably make a nice chaser in time.”
The richly endowed Paddy Power Chase went to Cross Cannon, given a dashing drive by Paul Carberry.
Noel Meade’s five-year-old went for glory over three out and held on for dear life in the closing stages to hold Treacle and Groody hill.
“I thought the line would never come,” admitted Meade. “I rang the handicapper and gave out to him for putting the horse up so much after the Troytown (Navan). But it has worked out, because only for that he wouldn’t have got in. The better ground was a big help.
“He absolutely winged fences, it was incredible the way he jumped. He’s a horse who doesn’t do a stroke and I’d say would stay four miles!”
Dessie Hughes’ 8-1 shot Chill landed the opening paddypower.com IPhone App. three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
He had the contest in safe keeping heading to the final flight, with a loose horse his only worry.
The loose horse did interfere with him, edging the winner away to his right, but Bryan Cooper soon had the situation in hand and Chill was quickly back in charge of his own destiny.
Willie Mullins had a number of setbacks through the afternoon, but it came right in the Bumper when Ballycasey, enterprisingly handled by his son Patrick, shot away off the home turn and was always holding well-backed favourite, Our Vinnie.
“I’m delighted to get a winner, on a day when we have had a lot of disappointment,” said Mullins. “He will go novice hurdling straight away now and I am looking forward to him over fences.”
Ruby Walsh enjoyed his first success at Leopardstown for Christmas when guiding Adrian Murray’s Cass Bligh to victory in the paddypower.com Handicap Hurdle.
Walsh swept Cass Bligh ahead at the final flight and the running-on Citizenship was never going to close down the winner.
