Murphy worried about ground for Zeb Colm Murphy has been left ruing his luck after the recent wet spell resulted in soft ground at Sandown ahead of Big Zeb's bid for glory in the Keith Prowse Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase. The County Wexford handler pinpointed the Grade One event for his stable star in the hope of some better ground following heavy rain at home. However, this week's deluge all over England has left the Esher course soft, with more rain forecast. Another talking point has been Big Zeb's propensity to clout the odd fence in his races, a trait which almost certainly cost him victory against current champion Master Minded at Punchestown in April. "He's at the track already and it's fingers crossed that all goes well from here," said Murphy. "An awful lot has been made of his jumping this week but there is an argument that the Railway fences might just make him concentrate that bit more. "Either way, it always takes a good deal of jumping. "We thought we'd bring him here for a while now, thinking it would be better ground because I'm convinced he's better for it, but it's unfortunate the ground is as soft as it is. "I hope they don't go into it too badly today, there is a bit more rain forecast also. "He does act on soft though, you couldn't say he wouldn't go on it, but he's better on better ground."
