Big Race Perspective: The Champion Chase

Big Races / Timeform / 18 March 2010 / Leave a comment

Big Zeb provided an Irish St. Patrick's Day winner in the Champion Chase

Master Minded's disappointing effort takes a huge shine off this year's Queen Mother Champion Chase, as there's no doubting him as the outstanding two-miler of his generation, but Big Zeb produced a top-class performance of his own, anyway, more than worthy of winning this prestigious event, and a good gallop that strung the field out leaves no doubt about the validity of the result.

"Big Zeb stamped himself amongst the very best two-milers by finally delivering the top-class performance he's often promised, taking advantage of Master Minded's flop admittedly but still worthy of credit for his own improvement."

Big Zeb stamped himself amongst the very best two-milers by finally delivering the top-class performance he's often promised, taking advantage of Master Minded's flop admittedly but still worthy of credit for his own improvement, his jumping standing up much better than can be the case (fell in this race in 2009) and consequently travelling with ease throughout, sealing matters between the last two fences and just kept up to his work; he's no certainty to reproduce this on a given day, the flaws he's shown before hard to forget, but there's no doubting his talent.

Forpadydeplasterer 's second in the Tingle Creek looked better after Twist Magic confirmed himself an improved performer with another easy win in the Victor Chandler and, given he was better than the result at Sandown, it's no surprise to see this big effort from him, especially granted the same scene as his Arkle success, more superior to Kalahari King this year as he went from the front, no match for an on-song Big Zeb but battling despite not being entirely fluent; he'll remain vulnerable in the top races, though, for all he can be trusted to give his running.

Kalahari King confirmed himself as having improved from last season and, given his consistency, should remain competitive in the top two mile races, likely capable of picking one up somewhere down the line, for all this exposes his limitations when up against the very best around, sticking to his task without ever looking a likely winner; he'll probably head to Aintree next, where he was successful last season.

Master Minded 's overall record is impossible to knock and he's fully expected to bounce back and win more top races next season, his Game Spirit success evidence that he's still top-class for all it came against a weakish field, and perhaps that had taken a shade too much out of him just over a month earlier, bearing in mind the interruptions he's had since returning in November; he clearly wasn't himself, anyway, showing none of his typical zest (in trouble by three out) and unable to even see things out for third.

Oh Crick isn't quite up to this level and ran as well as could be expected, matching his third in the Victor Chandler, though it was only very late on that he made up ground, potentially a shade flattered as a result.

Golden Silver 's defeat of Tranquil Sea shortly after Christmas is difficult to knock but he's not jumped fluently enough on either start since, markedly so here and having no more to give from the second last.

Well Chief had his day when successful here earlier in the season but is essentially some way below the best nowadays and never seemed happy after a couple of early mistakes; he was wearing cheekpieces, incidentally.

Mahogany Blaze 's jumping has become a major issue, seeming worse since fitted with blinkers, getting no further than the fifth here.

Twist Magic has been a transformed character this season overall, underlined by his two Grade 1 wins, and something was clearly amiss here, beginning to come under pressure just before blundering four out.

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Tags: Big Zeb, Champion Chase, Cheltenham Festival, Forpadydeplasterer, Golden Silver, Kalahari King, Mahogany Blaze, Master Minded, Oh Crick, Twist Magic, Well Chief