Big Zeb

Big Zeb is a ten-year-old Bay Gelding from the Colin Murphy stables. Big Zeb has enjoyed a carer that has so far spanned across five years and includes a grand total of 24 races.

Big Zeb is a middle distance running horse. Big Zeb has raced in contest between 16 furlongs and 21 furlongs in length. Big Zeb's regular jockey is Barry Geraghty, who is one of the most experienced jockeys on the National Hunt calendar.

Big Zeb's First Race

Big Zeb's first race came on February 5 2006 over 16 furlongs at Limerick. The Irish horse finished a close second on debut and was beaten by a short distance of two lengths.

Big Zeb's first race showed that the horse had a talent for middle distance races over jumps. Big Zeb's first race also showed that the horse can justify pressure and expectation even though the horse had never raced in competition before.

Big Zeb's First Win

Big Zeb's first win came at Fairyhouse on March 10 2007. This was also Barry Geraghty's first race as the regular jockey of the horse. Big Zeb won by 12 lengths over the 16 furlong distance and was held up throughout the race until late on.

Big Zeb's first win was followed up by a second at the start of 2008 over a longer distance of 21 furlongs on the same racecourse. Big Zeb seemed to be the classic example of a horse that gets better with experience.

Hold Up Racing Style

Big Zeb is the perfect example of a horse with a hold up racing style. This is when the jockey prevents the horse from pushing on in the early stages of a race to take advantage of tiring horses towards the end.

A hold up racing style is often deployed for horses with superb stamina. A hold up racing style is also popular for horses that are not quick in the initial stages of a race. Big Zeb has always responded when urged to push on late in a race.

Big Zeb's Recent Form

Big Zeb's recent form has been very good as the Bay Gelding has won five out of the last seven races. Big Zeb did not finish any lower than first in any race the horse entered throughout 2010.

Big Zeb's recent form will be vital at the Cheltenham Festival in 2011 because the horse will be used to a certain pattern and racing a certain way in the recent past. Things should come naturally to the horse in 2011 despite a bad result at Punchestown at the end of January this year.

Cheltenham 2011

Big Zeb will be an interesting horse to watch at Cheltenham 2011 because the horse has only ever had one solid race at Cheltenham before. This was a win in the Queen Mother Champion Chase last year by six lengths.

This suggests that Big Zeb will not be flustered at Cheltenham 2011 but it is strange that the horse has not taken part in more Grade 1 races at Cheltenham in the recent past.