Weekend Preview: Sizing or Zeb in Tied Cottage?

Timeform Debate / Timeform / 03 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Sizing Europe and Big Zeb will do battle again this weekend

"The Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase looks to be the standout contest and is likely to have a large bearing on the Champion Chase market..."

The frost has taken its toll on racing throughout the week and this weekend's jumps action will be lucky to avoid further abandonments, with Saturday's Sandown card already off and both Wetherby and Ffos Las to inspect...

At the time of writing, Ffos Las looks to be the feature meeting on Saturday and all eyes will be on Oscar Whisky , who will bid to claim his second Welsh Champion Hurdle after an impressive winning display in the race last season. Oscar Whisky is currently entered for the Champion Hurdle and the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, with connections reportedly keen to take on Big Buck's in the latter contest, but another good performance in Saturday's two-mile feature may force them to reconsider their options.

Starluck is the one likely to provide Oscar Whisky with the stiffest competition, reverting back to hurdles after last season's stint novice chasing. Starluck was a very smart hurdler at his best, finishing second in the 2009 renewal of the Christmas Hurdle, before a fifth place finish in the Champion Hurdle itself behind Binocular a year later. He is considered 8 lb inferior to Oscar Whisky on Timeform ratings though and he will be making his seasonal reappearance.

Also taking place at Ffos Las on Saturday is the West Wales National, a thorough test of stamina over three miles and four furlongs. As de Fer currently heads the weights and will be looking to regain the winning thread having pulled up in the Welsh National at Chepstow last time. Be There In Five and Dream Alliance, the latter a former Welsh National hero, are two other runners who may be of interest, whilst Incentivise could run well despite currently being 1 lb out of the handicap.

Over at Wetherby, the Grade 2 Towton Novices' Chase is the highlight, with the likes of Mossley, Lie Forrit, Mr. Moonshine and Teaforthree all currently entered. Of that quartet, it is Mossley who is arguably the most exciting prospect having finished second in last season's Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Hurdle, but he could be vulnerable to some more experienced horses on Saturday after just two chasing starts so far. Mr Moonshine has arguably been over-faced on his last two starts, finishing third behind Gauvain in the Peterborough Chase and fifth behind Grands Crus on his latest outing in the Feltham Chase. None of his rivals on Saturday will be up to that level and he could go close despite having to concede weight to the majority of his rivals.

British racing is completed by all-weather meetings at both Lingfield and Wolverhampton on Saturday, where handicaps dominate the cards.

There is a solitary meeting in Ireland on Saturday as Fairyhouse host a seven-race jumps card. The feature looks to be the novice chase over two miles and five furlongs in which the Gigginstown House Stud-owned pair Rathlin and Crash are currently entered. The closing bumper could also be of interest too though, with several powerful stables represented; Deadliest Catch, an ex-pointer trained by Gordon Elliott, could be the most inttriguing prospect amongst them.

Fontwell and Musselburgh are the venues for National Hunt racing on Sunday, with the latter arguably possessing the stronger card owing to a Class 2 juvenile hurdle. John Ferguson has the unbeaten pair Asaid and Creekside currently entered for that race, with the former probably the more likely to run. The Donald McCain-trained Kie arguably sets the standard amongst the remaining runners.

An handicap-heavy all-weather meeting at Kempton completes the British action on Sunday.

The best racing on Sunday, however, comes from Ireland, where there is seven-race jumps card due to take place at Punchestown. The Grade 2 Tied Cottage Chase looks to be the standout contest and is likely to have a large bearing on the Champion Chase market having attracted Sizing Europe and Big Zeb, who will be taking each other on for the first time this season. Big Zeb is rated only 1 lb superior to Sizing Europe on Timeform ratings and it will be fascinating to see who gets the upper hand in advance of Cheltenham.

The Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle also looks a strong contest, with Trifolium and Joxer among the current list of entries. Trifolium sets the standard having finished second to So Young last time, but Joxer is open to much more improvement than his chief rival having had just one start over timber so far, beating the highly-regarded Allure of Illusion in a heavy-ground maiden at Punchestown last month.

A trial for the Grand National is arguably the strongest handicap on off at Punchestown, with Becauseicouldntsee putting his Aintree credentials to the test over the three-and-a-half-mile trip. He will carry top weight in Sunday's contest and may be vulnerable to some less-exposed rivals further down the handicap, particularly if the jumping errors that have dogged his season so far have not been ironed out.

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