RACING:IRELAND'S HORSE of the Year Big Zeb took another step towards a mouth-watering clash with Master Minded in Cheltenham's Queen Mother Champion Chase when schooling at Leopardstown yesterday.
The reigning champion jumped six fences under his big race rider Barry Geraghty and pleased trainer Colm Murphy ahead of his festival date in 17 days.
“Big Zeb popped a line of fences. He was very good and we’re very happy with him,” Murphy said. “He worked with another horse that gave him a lead.
“We’ll just keep him ticking over now until Cheltenham.”
Big Zeb is an 11 to 4 second-favourite for the Cheltenham crown behind Master Minded, who was champion in 2008 and 2009.
Murphy also worked Raise The Beat, who goes for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, though he has not raced since winning at Naas in October.
“He worked over a mile-and-a- half. All went well and we’re very happy. It’s more than likely he’ll run in the bumper,” the Wexford handler went on. Murphy decided not to take Quito De La Roque to the Dublin venue.
However, the double Grade Two winner is still on course for Cheltenham, where he holds entries in the RSA Chase and National Hunt Chase, as long as the ground is suitable.
“We didn’t work him, but he’s A1,” the trainer added. “It depends on the ground. As long as it isn’t fast, he’ll go. We’ll decide which race nearer the time.”
Noel Meade worked his Gold Cup contender Pandorama too and was pleased with both him and the Arkle hope, Realt Dubh.
“He went about a mile-and- seven, almost two miles, with six others, Realt Dubh as well, and I was very happy with both of them.”
Pandorama, who was last seen winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown in December, is a top-priced 20 to 1 for the Gold Cup.
Meade will only have a few runners at the Festival, with dual Grade One winner Realt Dubh more likely to go for the Arkle Trophy than the Jewson Novices’ Chase.
“Realt Dubh will almost certainly go for the Arkle,” he revealed. “I won’t have a big team this year. There will be those two, and possibly Fully Funded might take his chance in the Albert Bartlett.
“Silverhand is in a couple of handicaps (the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle and the Coral Cup). We’ll see what weight he gets and I think that might be it there for me this year.”
