Zeb fine after Punchestown fall

Big Zeb is reported to be none the worse following his fall at Punchestown on Sunday.

The 11-8 favourite was closing in on the leader Mansony when falling at the second last in the Amazing Thailand Chase.

His trainer Colm Murphy has to decide whether to give the eight-year-old another prep run before the Queen Mother Champion Chase, though options are limited, or go straight to next month's Cheltenham Festival.

"He seems fine. Lucky enough there are no ill-effects," said the County Wexford-based handler.

"It was disappointing all right. He made a little jumping error and paid the price.

"I'm not sure whether we'll go straight to Cheltenham or try to get another run into him, but there aren't that many options. I'm not too worried. It's only a minor hiccup and he's fairly straightforward."

Big Zeb, who had made a successful reappearance in the Dial-A-Bet Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, is still second favourite at around 10-1 behind the odds-on favourite Master Minded for the Champion Chase.