tracked leaders in 2nd from 3rd, 1 length down when ridden entering straight, no chance with easy winner from well before last
led from 2nd, driven along approaching straight, drew clear before last, stayed on strongly, easily
led early, chasing other 2 from 3rd, no impression when mistake 7th, soon trailing
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.
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.
