Zaidpour continued his rich vein of form this season when sauntering to an impressive 10-length win over Benash in the Grade 2 Tara Hurdle at Navan on Sunday and remains on course for a return trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March, writes Elliot Slater.
Willie Mullins' five-year-old had already signalled his intentions this season when proving a different class to his rivals in the Rock of Cashel Hurdle at Thurles last month, beating Bowland's Corner by an easy eight-lengths to justify odds of 3/10 favourite. Once again among horse racing betting tips and sent off at thin odds (1/3f) at Navan, Ruby Walsh always appeared to be travelling best in the two-and-a-half-mile affair,breezing into the lead at the second from home before effortlessly pulling away to win as he pleased.
Although punters who bet on racing will have probably learned little new from this latest victory it at least confirmed that Zaidpour is in great heart and connections were quick to state that he remains on course for a repeat visit to the Cheltenham Festival having finished seventh behind Al Ferof in the Supreme Novices Hurdle last spring. The son of Red Ransom appears to have both speed and stamina to burn so Mullins has a wide choice of option available to him with a horse he has long believed could turn out to be top class.
Hinting strongly that Zaidpour will not run over the Christmas period, Mullins suggested that he wouldn't be afraid to go up to three-miles with the horse, but also reminded all listening that his charge has so much pace he wouldn't be out of place taking his chance in the Champion Hurdle, for which he is currently on offer at a general offer of 25/1.
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