Zeus Power
Noted here after he finished third in the Turners Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham, Zeus Power is worthy of note again after his victory in the Sefton Hurdle at Aintree on Friday. Settled nicely just behind the leaders and along the inside early on by JJ Slevin, he travelled supremely well through his race, and he travelled best of all into the home straight. His jumping wasn't great, and he made a really bad mistake at the third last flight, at which he did well to stand up. It was a momentum-halter, it should have been a chance-ender, but he was quickly back on an even keel and he stayed on strongly to get the better of early leader Catchitsavo, with favourite Johnny's Jury, the Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner, staying on to take third place.
Joseph O'Brien's horse has been really progressive all season. Winner of his maiden hurdle at Thurles in December, he stayed on well to get the better of Lazare De Star in a novices' hurdle at Navan in January. Sent to Cheltenham for the Turners Hurdle on the back of that run, he belied odds of 50/1 in staying on well to finish third. It was significant that his trainer stepped him up to three miles for the Sefton Hurdle on the back of that run, when he had options at Aintree and at Punchestown over two and a half, he obviously had every confidence in his stamina for the trip, and that confidence was obviously well founded.
Zeus Power is only five, and this was just his fifth race over hurdles. No five-year-old had won the Sefton Hurdle since Saint Are won it in 2011, and he should be able to go on from this now. He will be a really exciting staying hurdler next season if connections decide to stay over hurdles with him. It's a long way off now but, given his proven ability to operate at Cheltenham too, odds of 16/1 about him for next year's Stayers' Hurdle look more than fair.
Aintree, 10th April 2026
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