Voler La Vedette in action© Photo Healy Racing
Colm Murphy is not too downbeat after star mare Voler La Vedette was turned over at long odds-on at Navan yesterday.
Last season's World Hurdle runner-up was a 1/7 favourite to secure back-to-back wins in the Lismullen Hurdle, but having been ridden with confidence by Andrew Lynch, she failed to reel in race-fit front-runner Whatuthink.
Murphy feels his eight-year-old will improve for the run and she will now defend her title in the Grade One Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse next month.
"She seems fine this morning and considering the ground she made up, I think she probably ran a very good race," said Murphy.
"She came from a long way back and you can't give them a furlong start in that ground.
"She'll come on for the run and we'll stick to the plan with her and go for the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse."
The trainer was delighted with the performance of his multiple Grade One-winning chaser Big Zeb, who went down fighting when searching for a fourth consecutive win in the Fortria Chase.
Although perhaps not the force of old, the 11-year-old ran with plenty of credit to chase home younger rival Flemenstar, who now looks destined for the top.
With the winner set to step up in distance, like old rival Sizing Europe, Murphy hopes there will be opportunities for Big Zeb to win more races.
"He ran his race and we were very happy with him. He's good this morning but I'm not sure where we'll go next," said the trainer.
"He'll probably be given a few entries and we'll see which horses are going where.
"Hopefully they'll go in different directions."
