Weekend Review, 31st January – Zeb Zooms In!

ZEB ZOOMS IN!

Big Zeb

Big Zeb (5/4) restored his reputation and got his season back on track with an impressive victory in the Grade Two Tied Cottage Chase at Punchestown on Sunday. Colm Murphy`s Stable Star, ridden by Barry Geraghty, pulled away from Golden Silver(9/10F) to record a facile 7L success and booked his place in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March. While the opposition on Sunday may have lacked somewhat in depth it was nonetheless a most satisfactory return to form from Big Zeb and he should run a solid race at the Festival without perhaps troubling the judge.

Other highlights from the Racing week in the Emerald Isle included -:

JAN 27th

NAVAN

• There was a sting in the tail for favourite backers in the 2010 Navan Membership Handicap Chase when Seabass (5/4F), ridden for his father by Ruby Walsh, toppled over at the last obstacle with the race at his mercy handing victory to the Eric McNamara trained Flemensford (10/1). Without doubt Ted Walsh`s luckless charge is worth keeping an eye on in the next few weeks.

• The concluding Bumper once again proved to be a Mullins` benefit when Kerb Appeal (Evens F) romped to an ultra impressive 17L winning margin for Willie and Patrick Mullins. There seems to be no end to the Bumper Winning Production line from these quarters.

JAN 28^TH

THURLES

• There was a high class card at the Tipperary venue on Thursday. The Featured Kinloch Brae Chase (Grade Two) saw Newmill roll back the years when the former Champion Chaser recorded a 3L victory for jockey Eddie Power and Trainer JJ Murphy at odds of 11/2. Snowy Morning (5/4F) chased the veteran home.

• The Grade Three Novice Chase on the card went the way of the Philip Rothwell trained Tally Em Up (7/2F) who defeated Inistioge by 3L under the in-form Davy Russell. It was a red letter day for Russell as he rode a treble on the card, also being victorious aboard Politeo (5/1) for Paul Nolan in the Moycarkey Hurdle and Cool Dude Luke (11/8F) for the Charlie Swan stable in the Novice Hurdle. I t was`nt a bad day for Rothwell either as in addition to Tally Em Up he also saddled Paddy O Dee who won the opening Maiden Hurdle at odds of 5/2.

JAN 31^ST

PUNCHESTOWN

• The Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle was the supporting race on the card to the big race, reviewed above, and it went the way of the Andrew McNamara ridden Luska Lad(7/2) for the shrewd JJ “Shark” Hanlon stable. The winner put up an impressive display to defeat the hot-pot Saludos (4/5F) by four and a half lengths.

• There was compensation for the unlucky defeat in Navan midweek for Seabass

(11/8F) when he ran out a ready winner of the Handicap Chase on the card.

Once again ridden by Ruby for his father Ted Walsh the 7 year old is owned by

The Gunners Syndicate and looks like one who could well run up a sequence in     the coming weeks. Ruby went on to complete a double on Blackstairsmountain (2/1) for Willie Mullins in the Maiden Hurdle.

• The Grand National Trial Race was won by Inoma Jones at the rewarding odds of 16/1 for Trainer DJ Barry and jockey CD Maxwell.

• Another Jewel (20/1) defeated Aintree Grand National winner Silver Birch by 6L in the PP Hogan Memorial Cross Country Chase. The winner was ridden by John Cullen for the Denis Murphy yard.

LIMERICK

• There was a double on the card at Greenmount Park for jockey Paul Townend courtesy of Sounds Of Jupiter (2/5F) for the Charles Byrne stable and The Kings Sword (3/1F) for Trainer Kieran Purcell.

Meanwhile, in Naas on this Saturday current Ante Post Favourite for the Arkle Chase at the Festival, Captain Cee Bee, has his prep race in the Opera Hat Novice Chase and could well shorten up significantly if he puts up a smart display as expected.

All roads will lead to Lepardstown for the Grade One Feast on Sunday and there will be Cheltenham clues a plenty on a top class days racing which features The Hennessy Gold Cup. Joncol is taken to keep the prize at home.

Trainers in form;

TM Walsh, C.Byrnes, CF Swan, Colm Murphy, P.Rothwell, W.Mullins.

Happy Punting

JOE Q

Posted by Joe on February 1, 2010. Filed under Race Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.