Horse Racing: Big Zeb notably defeats Sizing Europe in Boylesports.com Champion Chase at Punchestown
Punchestown hosted a very interesting race on Tuesday, 3rd May, well known as the Boylesports.com Champion Chase. The Grade 1 event was run over a distance of 2 miles by racehorses of ages five and above.
Those who follow the sport are well aware of the fact that the champion colt, Sizing Europe, successfully held off his compatriot, Big Zeb, in the famous Cheltenham Festival.
Nonetheless, things did not work out in favour of Sizing Europe this time around as Big Zeb defeated him in the feature race that took place at the Punchestown racecourse.
One may say that Big Zeb succeeded in avenging his defeat in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Sizing Europe was sent out to contend this race as an 11-8 favourite and became part of a rather small party of contenders.
Sizing Europe was ridden by the champion jockey, Timmy Murphy, in this particular event. Murphy was observed to be struggling throughout the race to bring the champion leader in the lead but unfortunately for him, Big Zeb was more than determined to claim
this race.
On the other hand, Big Zeb was being ridden by Barry Geraghty. Other prominent contenders of this race were Captain Cee Bee and Golden Silver.
The 9-4 favourite competitor, Big Zeb, won the race by outrunning Sizing Europe by a distance of three quarters of a length.
The trainer of the winner racehorse, Colm Murphy, was extremely pleased with the performance of his ten-year-old trainee.
In a post race interview, he was reported as saying, “I’m absolutely delighted for him. Everything has gone right since Cheltenham and it’s lovely to win here. He always gives everything and they have both given their all from the back of the second last.
I was always happy with him, he only made one mistake but he travelled so well”.
After winning this race, Big Zeb recorded his ninth career victory out of 19 races that he has contested so far.
The third place finisher of the race was Captain Cee Bee.
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