The Willie Mullins-trained Anzadam, who impressed many at Fairyhouse at the end of November, will run at Naas on Sunday (and NOT the DRF) in the Limestone Lad Hurdle before a potential tilt at the Champion Hurdle in March.
Champion Hurdle Hope Anzadam To Miss Irish Champion Hurdle And Head To Naas
After the Sunday declarations were announced for Naas, one of the big names on show will be the Willie Mullins-trained ANZADAM – who will now bypass the Dublin Racing Festival and head to Naas.
Many thought Anzadam would clash with big-guns Lossiemouth and State Man in the Irish Champion Hurdle next Sunday (2nd Feb).
However, being owned by Joe Donnelly – who also has State Man – then connections have opted to avoid Leopardstown and instead take in the easier-looking Grade Three Limestone Lad Hurdle (2pm) at Naas.
Paul Townend Had Trouble Pulling Anzadam Up At Fairyhouse
Anzadam has been the latest ‘talking horse’ to come out of the all-powerful Willie Mullins yard and will head to Naas 3-from-3 after two wins in France and then impressing in the Willow Warm Hurdle at Fairyhouse at the end of November (watch below).
After the race jockey Paul Townend was visually excited about this 5 year-old – saying he had trouble pulling him up.
He’s also clearly not the most straightforward but the hood the last day (first time) seemed to do the trick and now connections will aim to get more experience into him at Naas before taking on the big-boys (and girls) in the Champion Hurdle.
Anzadam will face just two rivals at Naas on Sunday – the Gordon Elliott-trained Beacon Edge and the William Durkan runner Laafi, who was a former flat horse for trainer William Haggas.
The best horse racing betting sites in the UK are expected to make Anzadam a warm favourite on Sunday.
Then, if he wins well again, his Champion Hurdle odds ahead of the 11th March race at the Cheltenham Festival are sure to be slashed from 10/1.
WATCH: Anzadam Winning At Fairyhouse In November
Willie Mullins Has Won The Limestone Lad Hurdle Seven Times
The Limestone Lad Hurdle is named after the three-time winner of this race ‘Limestone Lad’ – who mopped up a trio of successes between 2000 and 2002.
His trainer James Bowe also won the race three more times, so has six in total.
However, Willie Mullins trumped Bowe in 2024 when his Zarak The Brave landed a seventh success in this race for the Closutton handler.
The first Mullins winner in the Limestone Lad came in 2012 with Mikael D’Haguenet.
While jockey Paul Townend, who will ride Anzadam on Sunday, has a top record in the race too – with six wins.
