Land Rover Sale graduate Big Zeb got his season off to the perfect start when recording his third successive victory in the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan this afternoon.
In a high class renewal of the race, the Colm Murphy trained Big Zeb tracked Forpadydeplasterer until three from home where he improved to lead. Holding off strong challenges from favourite Noble Prince as well as Forpadydeplasterer, Big Zeb kept on gamely to win by two lengths under Robbie Power.
This was the twelfth career victory for the ten year old son of Oscar and connections will be hoping for a repeat victory next time out in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Dial A Bet Chase at the Leopardstown Christmas festival, a race he won last year en route to finishing runner in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham – a race he is quoted at 6/1 for following today’s win – before turning the tables on Sizing Europe with victory in the Champion Chase at Punchestown.
Big Zeb was sold at Goffs Land Rover Sale 2004 by Whitehorse Stud to Patrick Redmond for €34,000.