RACING:MASTER MINDED may have returned to form with a vengeance at the weekend but rather than worrying about taking on the reigning title-holder at Cheltenham next month, Colm Murphy has more immediate jockey concerns for Ireland's main Champion Chase hope Big Zeb.
Barry Geraghty has been on board Big Zeb in all three of his starts this season and managed to secure a fine jumping performance out of the dual-Grade One winner in last month’s Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown.
However, Geraghty’s main retainer Nicky Henderson has his own Queen Mother Champion Chase candidate in Petit Robin and the jockey could be committed to riding that horse who is currently a 16 to 1 outsider in ante-post betting for the two-mile crown.
Murphy issued an upbeat bulletin on Big Zeb yesterday but the Co Wexford trainer is waiting on Geraghty’s availability for the big day.
“The horse himself seems to be bouncing and it is all-systems-go there but there is a big question mark about whether or not Barry will be able to ride. It could be a major problem because we are not sure what is happening with Nicky Henderson’s horse,” Murphy admitted yesterday. “I haven’t done anything yet about plans and hopefully it will be a bridge we won’t have to cross.”
Big Zeb is currently a 7 to 1 fourth favourite for the Champion Chase in an ante-post market that sees the two-time race winner Master Minded back into being a general odds-on favourite again after his eye-catching comeback from a fractured rib at Newbury on Saturday.
“I thought he was very impressive. He is the champion and he’s been there and done it twice,” Murphy added. “But if we get there healthy and happy then we won’t be shying away from any horse.”
Big Zeb’s stable companion Voler La Vedette is also pleasing the Murphy team after recovering from a setback and is on course for the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle at the festival.
“She’s cantering away and seems to be back on track. We are delighted with her. We’re not sure about jockey plans for her yet either but there’s another couple of weeks to worry about that,” Murphy said before confirming that his talented but accident-prone novice chaser Zaarito will miss the festival.
The former bumper star crashed out at the last when holding every chance in the Dr PJ Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown last time, the latest in a series of falls this season.
“It’s frustrating because he gave an exhibition up to the last fence the last day and if he’d done the same at one more fence, you’d say he was a great leaper. There’s obviously a kink there we have to iron out but he has been very unlucky as well,” Murphy said. “He’s not even entered for the festival so we’ll look at a winners of one and then maybe the Powers Gold Cup.”
Willie Mullins has a trio of horses – Arbor Supreme, Ballytrim and Pomme Tiepy – in contention for Saturday’s Blue Square Gold Cup at Haydock. A total of 20 horses are entered for the event including the current ante-post favourite, Le Beau Bai and the 2008 winner Miko De Beauchene.
In other news, Punchestown have announced a €300,000 investment in customer facilities ahead of April’s festival which like last year will have a series of 3.30 starts from Tuesday to Friday. The final day on Saturday will start at 2.30.
The investment will include €150,000 in new catering facilities and a new layout for the food hall while there will also be upgrades for revamped public bars. For the first time there will be a trackside reserved enclosure.
