NOBODY HAS supplied Davy Russell with more winners this season than Wexford trainer Colm Murphy and the championship-leading jockey can profit from the link-up again in Grade One style at Fairyhouse tomorrow courtesy of Big Zeb.
The seven-year-old is part of just a five-horse declaration for the €100,000 Powers Gold Cup and one of the quintet, Drunken Disorderly, is also engaged in the Grade Three race at the track today.
In the circumstances then, the Murphy-Russell team will be fancying their chances with Big Zeb given a fair share of luck. However, all concerned will be taking nothing for granted on that score.
It's only nine days since Russell endured a nightmare passage on the hot favourite Zaarito in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham festival before finishing third to Cousin Vinny.
Despite a stand-out piece of form, when runner-up to J'y Vole in the PJ Moriarty on his last start, Big Zeb has been no stranger to bad fortune himself, something Murphy is well aware of.
"He was giving a lot of weight away on his last start and he was unfortunate in another couple of races when he fell at the first. Hopefully he will get a change of luck as he deserves to win a big race," said Murphy before dismissing any concerns about the likelihood of testing conditions. "He has done well on that sort of ground before."
That comment will also apply to the double Grade One winner Sky's The Limit who returns to the course and distance of his Drinmore victory here in December. Edward O'Grady's grey should bridge most of the 36 lengths he has to find with Big Zeb on Moriarty form, but maybe not all of it.
Conna Castle is unlikely to relish very testing conditions but there was a lot to like about his comeback run at Thurles and he may emerge as Big Zeb's big threat.
Murphy's runner in the Beginners Chase, Wickford, will be a challenge to his jockey Tom Doyle given that he has an accident-prone series of form figures next to his name. However, he is a double course winner and he will relish the extended two and three quarter miles. With a clear round, Wickford should go close.
Horner Woods belied a drift in the betting before his bumper at Navan to win impressively and this point-to-point winner looks like he should be hard to beat under Barry Geraghty in the maiden hurdle.
Cooldine has been a prolific winner this season in Archie O'Leary's Florida Pearl colours and tries for another Grade Two pot in the Rathbarry & Glenview Festival Novice Hurdle. He has to concede weight to some decent sorts including Woodbine Willie whose trainer Philip Fenton won this race with both Vic Venturi (2006) and Sher Beau (2005.)
However, the major threat to Cooldine may emerge from a Noel Meade trio that includes the talented but frustrating Mick The Man and more interestingly, Rinroe. Paul Carberry is on this dour stayer who will have no problem with soft conditions and who should strip fresh after a comparatively undemanding season so far.
The Grade Three mares novice hurdle has a habit of throwing up top-class winners such as Cailin Alainn (2006), Asian Maze (2005) and Nobody Told Me (2003.) It remains to be seen if any of tomorrow's 13-strong field live up to that level but Give It Time is in top form at present having won at Limerick last weekend. Her experience may be crucial against the hurdling newcomer Shirley Casper.
The 2008 turf campaign on the flat gets under way at Cork tomorrow and although the start may be low-key, that won't matter to Dermot Weld fans if Luxie can score in the seven-furlong handicap. This one started a warm favourite at Dundalk's all-weather over a mile but managed only third to Le Citadel. The drop back in distance could suit.
