Zeb team sights on Champion
Colm Murphy’s Cheltenham hero of 2010 faces not far short of a match race with Sizing Europe as only three runners have been declared in the two-mile Grade Two.
Sizing Europe beat Big Zeb by five lengths in last year’s renewal before the older horse managed a comeback in the Punchestown Champion Chase.
Big Zeb, who is now 11, has carried on where he left off this winter in beating Noble Prince in both the Fortria Chase at Navan and the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting.
He does, however, have a chequered relationship with the Tied Cottage as a win in 2010 is sandwiched between a fall in 2009 and a defeat to Golden Silver 12 months ago – when Sizing Europe was even further away in third.
Redmond, who is involved in property and construction and lives close to Murphy’s yard in Gorey, County Wexford, is also concerned about potentially heavy ground at Punchestown.
“He’s done nothing wrong this season – he has been out twice and won twice, but he’ll have strong competition at Punchestown,” Redmond said.
“The ground won’t be helpful, as he prefers better ground, but I know Colm is very happy with him.
“This is preparation for Cheltenham, so as long as he gets a clear round, we’ll be happy.”
Oliver Brady’s Imperial Shabra is rated leagues behind the big two and set for some place prize money unless the unexpected happens.
Sizing Europe’s trainer Henry de Bromhead is taking a similar view to Redmond about this event simply being a warm-up for Cheltenham.
The 10-year-old did not exactly impress over longer distances on his first two outings at Gowran and Down Royal but was electric when returned to two miles in the Tingle Creek at Sandown in December.
“We’ll be focussing on Cheltenham and this is a stepping stone towards that,” said De Bromhead.
