Cheltenham Review

Big Zeb trained by Colm Murphy, led home an Irish one/two when the 10/1 shot credited Barry Geraghty with his third Champion Chase victory, when he ran out an impressive winner over Forpadydeplasterer.

Geraghty’s mount has been let down by his jumping in the past, but was foot perfect on this occasion and was eased to the front after the second last. The winning rider had to get pretty vigorous with the nine year on the flat, but he was always doing enough in front to scoop the first prize of £!40,000.

Master Minded, who was the subject of a £24,000 bet at 4/6 and a £20,000 wager at 4/5, never looked happy on the ground and was being niggled along from the third last by Ruby Walsh and was run out of third place after the last by Kalahari King. Murphy said: "He's had his bad days, and has made stupid mistakes, but everything has gone really well this year. "We got a little bit greedy and went to Sandown for the Tingle Creek when we probably shouldn't have. "But he's taken a bit of knowing and we're learning about him every day.’ He continued.’ Barry really believes in him and, in fairness to him, he was so bullish of beating Master Minded in Punchestown last year and I thought he was a bit mad, but he's been proved dead right. The pair of them have struck up a really good relationship and it's just fantastic.’

Winning rider Barry Geraghty said,’ he had a good look around after the last and I thought he was going to pull up, but he found plenty when he needed to. "I saw Master Minded coming but I had a lot left when I kicked for home.’

Davey Russell and Charles Byrnes, who were out of luck with Solwhit in yesterdays Champion Hurdle, gained ample compensation, when Weapons Amnesty ran out a hugely impressive winner of the RSA Chase. The Presenting gelding was very well handled by Russell, who scraped the paint throughout and the race was won long before a superb jump at the last and Russell could afford to ease his mount close home for a seven length success.

The favourite Punchestowns was beaten after the fourth last, while his stable companion Long Run, was let down by his jumping and lost second spot to Burton Pint after the last. "Winning form is crucial around here and he loves this place. Davey got him settled today and he is as good as anyone riding around here," reported Byrnes. "That is it for the season. He has to go left handed and he’ll be trained for next year’s Gold Cup," the Limerick handler concluded. Winning owner Michael O'Leary, the boss of Ryanair