Racecards
14:55 Punchestown (IRE)
Boylesports.com Tied Cottage Chase (Grade 2) (Class 1)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m
- Going: Heavy
- Surface: Turf
- €40,000 added
- Winner: €26,000
- 2nd: €7,600
- 3rd: €3,600
- 4th: €1,200
- Form 122-111
- Age 11
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 172
- Trainer C A Murphy
- Jockey R M Power
tracked leaders in 2nd from 3rd, 1 length down when ridden entering straight, no chance with easy winner from well before last
- Form 31-2121
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 173
- Trainer H De Bromhead
- Jockey A E Lynch
led from 2nd, driven along approaching straight, drew clear before last, stayed on strongly, easily
- Form 470436
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 113
- Trainer P O Brady
- Jockey J L Cullen
led early, chasing other 2 from 3rd, no impression when mistake 7th, soon trailing
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Racegoers are in for a treat here and it's tactics that are likely to decide the outcome between the brilliant two-milers BIG ZEB and Sizing Europe. The former finished runner-up in this last year behind Golden Silver with Sizing Europe 7l back in third. The positions were reversed in the Champion Chase at Cheltenham then reversed again in the Irish equivalent here. The pair are almost impossible to split but Colm Murphy's champion just gets the vote. Imperial Shabra's connections will be delighted to be involved and should pick up a nice little pot for finishing third.
Formwatch
Big Zeb (IRE) 8-11fav (11-12) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden entering straight, stayed on to challenge last, led run-in and kept on well under pressure, won at Leopardstown 2m 1f chs G1 (1) in Dec beating Noble Prince (11-12) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Sizing Europe (IRE) 11-8fav (11-7) Tracked clear leader, close up 7th, led narrowly after 10th, driven clear between last 2, stayed on well, well in command flat, won at Sandown 2m Grade 1 chs (4yo+) (1) gs in Dec beating Kauto Stone (11-7) by 8l, 7 ran.
Imperial Shabra (IRE) 12-1 (11-8) Led, strongly pressed and headed soon after 2 out, no impression on easy winner from before last, no extra and weakened, 6th of 13, 13l behind Glam Gerry (11-2) at Leopardstown 2m 5f cond hcp chs 0-116 gd in Dec.