WITH LESS THAN a week to go until the start of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, horse-racing fans are begin to pay close attention to some of the mouth-watering head-to-head clashes scattered over the four days.
One such face-off is the meeting of Irish raider Big Zeb and Paul Nicholls’ Master Minded in next Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Twelve months ago, Master Minded was strongly tipped to bring home a third successive title following impressive triumphs in the race in both 2008 and 2009.
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On that occasion, however, it was the Irish nine-year-old who stole the show as jockey Barry Geraghty steered him home to a six-length victory over Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King. Master Minded, who had been sent off a heavily-backed 4/5 favourite, had to settle for fourth place.
Speaking to AtTheRaces, trainer Colm Murphy played down Big Zeb’s recent disappointing showing in the Tied Cottage Chase when he was beaten by Golden Silver, saying that the good going predicted for next week’s festival will work in his favour.
I can’t wait to see him back on some nice ground, he loves it.
He’s a different horse on better ground, absolutely.
Murphy also appeared unconcerned about the prospect of going into the race as the defending champion. It is a position that the Wexford-based man is accustomed to following his 2006 Champion Hurdle success with Brave Inca.
I don’t know if there’s any more pressure going into the race this year as the champion. It’s nice pressure.
It was the same with Brave Inca, it’s nice to be in this position.
Master Minded’s owner Clive Smith also spoke very favourably about the Irish raider’s chances of success. At the moment, bookmakers have installed his horse as the 9-4 favourite while Big Zeb is currently available at odds of 3/1.
“Big Zeb is a very talented horse and if the going gets better it will suit Big Zeb more,” Smith said.
“We’ll be doing very well to see him off and beat him, but I hope we will.”
Check out AtTheRaces preview of this year’s Queen Mother below.
Big Zeb ready for Cheltenham title defence
WITH LESS THAN a week to go until the start of the 2011 Cheltenham Festival, horse-racing fans are begin to pay close attention to some of the mouth-watering head-to-head clashes scattered over the four days.
One such face-off is the meeting of Irish raider Big Zeb and Paul Nicholls’ Master Minded in next Wednesday’s Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Twelve months ago, Master Minded was strongly tipped to bring home a third successive title following impressive triumphs in the race in both 2008 and 2009.
On that occasion, however, it was the Irish nine-year-old who stole the show as jockey Barry Geraghty steered him home to a six-length victory over Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King. Master Minded, who had been sent off a heavily-backed 4/5 favourite, had to settle for fourth place.
Speaking to AtTheRaces, trainer Colm Murphy played down Big Zeb’s recent disappointing showing in the Tied Cottage Chase when he was beaten by Golden Silver, saying that the good going predicted for next week’s festival will work in his favour.
Murphy also appeared unconcerned about the prospect of going into the race as the defending champion. It is a position that the Wexford-based man is accustomed to following his 2006 Champion Hurdle success with Brave Inca.
Master Minded’s owner Clive Smith also spoke very favourably about the Irish raider’s chances of success. At the moment, bookmakers have installed his horse as the 9-4 favourite while Big Zeb is currently available at odds of 3/1.
“Big Zeb is a very talented horse and if the going gets better it will suit Big Zeb more,” Smith said.
“We’ll be doing very well to see him off and beat him, but I hope we will.”
Check out AtTheRaces preview of this year’s Queen Mother below.
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Barry Geraghty Big Zeb Cheltenham Clive Smith Colm Murphy Master Minded Paul Nicholls Queen Mother Champion Chase Tied Cottage Chase