Goffs Land Rover Sale graduate Big Zeb was back to winning ways at Punchestown on Sunday with a convincing victory in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase, the first leg of a Grade 2 double for Goffs at the meeting.
A two time Grade 1 winner, Big Zeb (below) landed the Grade 2 Fortria Chase at Navan last November before finishing a disappointing fourth in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek. However he now heads to Cheltenham on the back of a flawless jumping display and seven length win in the Tied Cottage, and has been cut to 6/1 from 8/1 for the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Big Zeb was sold by Whitehorse Stud to Pat Redmond for €34,000 at the 2004 Goffs Land Rover Sale. The victory for the Oscar gelding closely followed success for fellow Land Rover purchases Newmill in theGrade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles on Thursday and The Sawyer, winner of the Grade 3 Betfair Trophy Chase at Cheltenham on Saturday.
Goffs December National Hunt graduate Luska Lad took the other feature race on the card, the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. A four time bumper winner, this was the Flemensfirth six year old's third win over hurdles and he did it comfortably. He took the lead before the last and kept on well under Andrew McNamara to win by 4 ½ lengths from odds on favourite Saludos.
According to trainer John Hanlon Luska Lad, who travels much better on right handed tracks, will bypass Cheltenham in favour of the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals.
Luska Lad was sold by Tullogher House Stud to Coolnamurry Stud for €10,000 as a foal at the 2004 Goffs December National Hunt Sale.
Nominations for this year's Goffs Land Rover Sale, leading source of top quality quick-to-hand National Hunt racehorses, are now being accepted. Click here to nominate online or alternatively contact the Bloodstock team at Goffs on 045 886600.