Big Zeb left his rivals trailing at Punchestown
Big Zeb is back among the leading contenders for the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in March after a fine Punchestown victory on Sunday.

Barry Geraghty oozed confidence on the Colm Murphy-trained horse, who won the Tied Cottage Chase by seven lengths.

Odds-on favourite Golden Silver, under Ruby Walsh, had to settle for second.

Big Zeb, who was fourth behind winner Twist Magic when favourite for the Tingle Creek Chase in December, is now as low as 5-1 for the Champion Chase.

"We'll freshen him up and then it's on to Cheltenham, it's nice to be going over there on the back of that," said Irish trainer Murphy.


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"We probably shouldn't have sent him over to the Tingle Creek (at Sandown) - I blame myself for that.

"His jumping was brilliant and we've done a lot of schooling with him at home."

Dual champion chaser Master Minded and Twist Magic, both trained by Paul Nicholls, are the market leaders for the big race at the Cheltenham Festival on 17 March.

What A Friend was well beaten by Cooldine at the Cheltenham Festival
What A Friend, part-owned by Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, won the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown.

The 11-2 chance, runner-up to Denman in the Hennessy Gold Cup in November, stayed on to beat Money Trix and Joncol while favourite Cooldine disappointed.

What A Friend, trained by Ferguson's friend Paul Nicholls, was ridden by Denman's former jockey Sam Thomas.

Meanwhile, Solwhit won the December Festival Hurdle to enhance his claims for the Champion Hurdle in March.

Bookmakers reacted to What A Friend's victory by cutting the six-year-old to 20-1 from 33s for the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The three-mile chase, which traditionally features some leading Gold Cup contenders, was rearranged after fog caused Monday's card to be postponed.

Thomas, who was on board What A Friend in the Hennessy, only got the Lexus ride after Barry Geraghty was rerouted to Newbury.

"If you take Denman out he would have been a good winner of the Hennessy and all credit to him for coming here three weeks after that run," said Thomas, who won the 2008 Gold Cup on Denman but has endured mixed fortunes since.

"People thought he was ungenuine in the Hennessy when he wandered about going to the final fence but he was just trying so hard.

"Some great horses like Denman and Beef Or Salmon have won this race so hopefully our horse can go onto bigger and better things and I think he might come back here for the Irish Hennessy."

Cooldine, who won the RSA Chase at the Cheltenham Festival by 16 lengths in March when What A Friend was last of six finishers, was sent off the 100-30 favourite.

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What A Friend has paid a huge compliment to Denman

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But trainer Willie Mullins had warned he might need the race and he faded in the closing stages under Paul Townend, who stepped in after Ruby Walsh chose to ride Big Buck's for Nicholls in the Long Walk Hurdle at Newbury.

What A Friend, who had a 22lb weight advantage when second to Denman in the Hennessy, travelled well throughout.

He stayed on for an English 1-2, gamely holding off the Nicky Richards-trained Money Trix (14-1) by half a length with 2008 Welsh National winner Joncol (7-2) in third.

Joncol's trainer Paul Nolan said : "It is unfortunate that we seem so far behind the English horses.

"For What A Friend to come over and beat us like that, it puts us a long way behind.

"Hopefully he will improve a bit with age and I am delighted with his run, but I thought that we did have it."

It was the biggest National Hunt win so far for Ferguson, who jointly owns the winner with Ged Mason.

The Manchester United manager has enjoyed mixed fortunes during his forays into racehorse ownership.

Ferguson led in the brilliant Flat horse Rock of Gibraltar during his early successes, but an ownership dispute saw him come off second best in a row with wealthy Irish racing duo JP McManus and John Magnier.

In the big hurdle race, Davy Russell pushed out 8-11 favourite Solwhit to win for trainer Charles Byrnes.

The 2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity (5-1) was two lengths behind in second.



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Lexus Chase 3m, Leopardstown
1 What A Friend (Paul Nicholls) Sam Thomas 11-2
2 Money Trix 14-1
3 Joncol
Dist: 7-2 ½, 1¼. 11 ran

Leopardstown Golf Centre December Festival Hurdle 2m
1 Solwhit (Charles Byrnes) Davy Russell 8-11f
2 Sublimity 5-1
Dist: 2, 2½. 6 ran

Philip Prince was born with one ear and a jaw defect
A 17-year-old jockey who was born with one ear is due to make his debut on the flat at Wolverhampton on Monday.

Philip Prince has faced a year of legal wrangles with the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), which initially rejected his licence application.

But the jockey has now been granted an amateur licence and will ride either Cantabilly or Barodine in the 1410 GMT.

Philip's mother Dawn said: "It shows if you want something bad enough and are dedicated, things can come good."

In 2006, Philip, who also has a jaw defect, became involved in pony racing, and went on to enjoy 30 winners in over 60 rides over the last three years.

Without pony racing we don't think Philip would be fulfilling his lifelong dream

Dawn Prince
He spent two years with trainer Ron Hodges, for whom he will ride on Monday, but is now based at former Southampton and England footballer Mick Channon's yard at West Ilsley, near Newbury.

His mother continued: "Pony racing gave Philip a positive outlook, focus and helped him gain confidence. We are not a racing family and were totally new to the sport.

"Everybody welcomed us and welcomed Philip enormously. He has found his disability difficult at times but pony racing turned things around for him.

"Getting his licence has been a long and at times frustrating process. We are grateful to so many people who have kept our spirits up and ensured we didn't give up the fight.

"Without pony racing we don't think Philip would be fulfilling his lifelong dream."

The BHA turned down his application for a licence last year on the advice of their Medical Review Panel.

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But Philip and his family appealed the BHA decision, and after two further hearings managed to overturn it.

The chief executive of the Pony Racing Authority, Rebecca Morgan, said: "We're delighted for Philip. I have come to know the family well through their outstanding support of pony racing and greatly admire their dedication and determination.

"And I'm also pleased pony racing has made such a positive contribution to Philip and demonstrates the sport is open and accessible to all."

The 2009 Arc champion Sea The Stars is set to generate annual fees of £10m from his breeding career at the Aga Khan's Gilltown Stud in County Kildare.

And the Aga Khan, who owns 2008 winner Zarkava, will send his unbeaten filly to the Derby-winning colt.

"I believe the last two Arc winners were made for each other," he said.

He believes the pair are similar in ability, temperament and conformation.

"The best needs to be bred to the best," he said.

To coin a showbusiness analogy, they are the Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie of the equine world.

The match-up will send vibrations around the global bloodstock community, with high expectations for the pair's blueblood offspring.

One bookmaker has already offered odds of 33-1 that a son or daughter goes on to win the Arc at Longchamp in France.

Sea The Stars, a son of Cape Cross, will stand at stud for a fee of 85,000 euros (about £80,000).

This is the charge that will be paid every time an owner sends a mare to be covered by him.

With a book of 120 mares in his first year, the horse is expected to bring in about £10m in stud fees annually.

Owners the Tsui family had been considering various options for Sea The Stars after he was officially retired a fortnight ago.

Sea The Stars was hailed an all-time great after six Group One wins including a unique treble of the 2,000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe.

What would you name their offspring - Seize the Arc?

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Gilltown is close to the Curragh base of the three-year-old colt's Irish trainer John Oxx.

"His Highness came over in late summer and had a look at him while he was visiting," said the trainer.

"I think he was always going to stand in Ireland, and he'll get supported with some great mares there."

Ling Tsui, mother of Christopher Tsui in whose colours he raced, said "Gilltown is an ideal stud for Sea The Stars to thrive and develop as a stallion.

"There is no more appropriate place for him to stand than in his homeland and close to Currabeg where he was trained by John Oxx."

The Aga Khan said the decision to use his stud brought him "the greatest happiness".

"We are all proud to have such a remarkable athlete," he said.

"Mrs Tsui and Christopher's decision is certainly one of the most important developments for my operation since I inherited it in 1960.

"I am also most pleased that Mrs Tsui and Christopher will be developing their own breeding operation with the help of their magnificent horse, Sea The Stars.

"This horse could also help develop relations to bring Chinese investment into the European bloodstock market."

He added: "I look forward to the earliest opportunity to send my unbeaten champion Zarkava to Sea The Stars. "