Punchestown date next for Big Zeb
“He’s come out of his Leopardstown race well and the Punchestown race is the one we're looking at for him before Cheltenham,” said Murphy.
The six-time Grade 1 winner is being aimed at the Sportingbet.com Queen Mother Champion Chase which he won in 2010 before finishing second to Sizing Europe last season.
Meanwhile, Voler La Vedette will drop down to two miles for the first time since finishing fourth behind Hurricane Fly in the same event a year ago when she contests the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 29.
Her victory in the Grade 2 Christmas Hurdle last week was her first over three miles
Trainer Colm Murphy said: “Voler La Vedette came out of her Christmas Hurdle in good form and will be given an entry for the Irish Champion. The chances are she’ll run if the ground is soft or heavy.
“We’ll have plenty of options in terms of distance later in the season but there really isn’t any other suitable race coming up this month.”
Bred by her owner Margaret Brophy, the daughter of King’s Theatre is unbeaten in three starts this season having landed the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan and the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, both over 2m4f, before her win at Leopardstown.
Meanwhile, Bog Warrior could try to get his career back on track in about a month’s time following his fall in the Grade One Racing Post Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day.
The eight-year-old, owned by Gigginstown House Stud, was sent off the 4-5 favourite to supplement his victory in the Drinmore Chase at Fairyhouse three weeks earlier when he took a tumble at the fourth fence.
“He’s grand, but we won’t be in too much of a hurry with him. We’ll tread slowly and take our time,” said trainer Tony Martin.
“Hopefully maybe at the end of January, or the beginning of next month, we might find something for him.
“We’ll see what there is and the trip doesn’t seem to matter to him. We can run him over two, or even three miles plus.
“He’s very adaptable and the trip wouldn’t be a problem to him. He has the speed for two and stays plenty well enough for three.
“We’ll just give him a bit of time to get over his fall the other day before we make any firm plans.
“We won’t be going anywhere with him in the immediate future.”
Meanwhile, trainer Tom George is eyeing up a tilt at the valuable Boylesports.com Hurdle at Leopardstown on January 28 for Olofi.
The grey looked to still be travelling well at Newbury on Saturday before falling at the second-last flight.
Previously he had finished second in the Greatwood Hurdle and was forced to miss The Ladbroke after scoping badly.
