Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase

1.50 Punchestown
Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase (Grade 2) (Class 1) (5YO plus)
Winner €26,000

Pick: Big Zeb (win)

Big Zeb: Has always had talent to produce great performances (as he showed when he should have beaten Masterminded but for a horrible mistake at the last 2 years ago) and finally put it all together when winning 4 out of his 5 starts last year, capped off by a devastating six length win in the Champion Chase; Has been faultless since beating Golden Silver into second at both Navan and Leopardstown and standout here on road back to Cheltenham.

Golden Silver: Got the better of Arkle winner Forpadydeplaster in Irish Arkle before going off the boil for the rest of his novice runs; Has since made up into one of top Irish Chasers, winning this race a year ago before impressive successes in the Dan Moore Memorial and Boylesports Champion Chase at Punchestown Festival; Well beaten behind Big Zeb first time up and same story at Christmas, but as potent a threat as ever for in form team.

Sizing Europe: Recouped his former promise (should have won 2008 Champion Hurdle) over fences last season, completing a stunning 5 timer in the Arkle; Hasn’t won since but not for lack of class, the step up to open company just proving too much and in retrospect he faced a near impossible task trying to beat Kauto Star last time at Down Royal; Drops back to best trip here with pacemaker to help, which is huge positive and to be respected.

Scotsirish: Ran well in a series of races last season, the best of those being an excellent second under topweight in the Topham, also winning the Normans’s Grove Chase; Has been below par in his 2 runs this season, although he improved a lot to be third behind Big Zeb and Sizing Europe.

Chasing Cars: Hasn’t proven too successful over cross country fences and acting as pacemaker here for Sizing Europe.

VERDICT: The biggest pointer to future races in a Grade 1 in all but name maybe the reappearance of Sizing Europe (pacemaker aided) back at his ideal trip of two miles. BIG ZEB’s the clear standout and is probably going to take on the way to a tilt at a second successive Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival but beware of lumping on him with his close rival Golden Silver also in attendance here.