Zeb bids for a Fortria hat-trick Colm Murphy does not expect Big Zeb to have it all his own way as he bids to win the Fortria Chase for the third year running at Navan tomorrow. Although only five horses have been declared for the Grade Two contest over two miles it is a select field. Smart second-season chaser Noble Prince heads the opposition along with Tom Cooper's Forpadydeplasterer, runner-up to Big Zeb in the 2010 Queen Mother Champion Chase. "Touch wood, we're hoping for a nice run and then we can plan afterwards. It's a good race with Noble Prince in there for starters. He seems good and well in himself, so we're hoping for a clear round and that all goes well. He's 10 going on 11 years old, but he's done nothing wrong so far," said Murphy. Recent Naas winner Noble Prince sidestepped the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham for this engagement nearer home, but fellow County Wexford handler Paul Nolan realises the size of the task. "We're happy with the horse at the moment. We're taking on a champion, so basically we're just hoping he'll run really well," said Nolan. "It's a fairly big ask for our horse. We don't expect to beat the champion but we just hope he puts up a good show and comes back safe and sound." Tom Cooper could also have sent Forpadydeplasterer to Cheltenham for the Shloer Chase in which he was second last year, but opted to run on home soil. "I'm very happy with him. We decided to stay at home with him on Sunday rather than go to Cheltenham," said Cooper. "We may have been better going to Cheltenham but we'll see how we get on. He worked very well in Thurles on soft ground last Thursday."
