Zeb heads Creek quintet

Irish raider set to start favourite for Saturday feature

Last updated: 3rd December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Big Zeb

Big Zeb

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Irish raider Big Zeb heads the market for Saturday's Keith Prowse

Hospitality Tingle Creek Chase after a high-class field of five were declared for the race.

Colm Murphy's eight-year-old went down narrowly to Master Minded at Punchestown in the spring and with Paul Nicholls' charge on the easy list Big Zeb is the one to beat.

However, he will be taken on by four talented rivals in the Grade One feature at Sandown headed by the David Pipe-trained Well Chief, who lowered the colours of Master Minded on his return at Cheltenham last month.

The 10-year-old last ran in the Tingle Creek back in 2004 when he finished third behind Moscow Flyer and Azertyuiop in what was arguably one of the best ever renewals of the race.

Nicholls has won the last four runnings and 2007 winner Twist Magic bids for a second success after warming up with a third place in the William Hill Gold Cup at Exeter.

Last season's Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer steps back up to Grade One company after a satisfactory reappearance over two and a half miles in soft ground.

Completing the field is Nigel Twiston-Davies' Mahogany Blaze, who split Well Chief and Master Minded in the Connaught Chase last time out.