Anzadam
Anzadam was very good in winning the Grade 3 four-year-olds' hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday. Held up by Paul Townend through the early part of the race, he was a little keen behind the moderate pace, but his jumping was good, with the exception of a mistake at the last flight up the side of the track, and he travelled really well through his race. Still on the bridle as they turned for home, he cruised up on the near side of Dodger Long between the final two flights and, given a squeeze by Paul Townend, he hit the front on the run to the last and he cleared away on the run-in to win impressively. He pulled six and a half lengths clear of his rivals, eased down close home, and his rider had difficulty pulling him up after the winning line.
There was an awful lot to like about this performance from Willie Mullins' horse. He oozed class through the race, he travelled so well, and he beat a talented filly in Kala Conti comfortably. And he should be even better off a stronger gallop.
He wasn't asked for maximum effort, but he was still fastest of all through each of the last three furlongs, and he covered the last four furlongs in 51.79secs according to RaceIQ, 1.21secs faster than the next fastest. This was just Anzadam's third run ever, and it was his first run in Ireland, his first since he won a conditions hurdle for Arnaud Chaille-Chaille at Compiegne in October 2023. There could be significant improvement forthcoming, and he wouldn't have to improve an awful lot to enter the Champion Hurdle picture.
Fairyhouse, 30th November 2024
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