Anzadam Justifies Short Odds with Naas Racecourse Victory

Anzadam, a five-year-old French-bred gelding in Willie Mullins’ care, made a strong return to action with a convincing win in the Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle. The horse, who arrives with a sizeable reputation, cruised to victory with relative ease, demonstrating his potential for future success.

Starting from a Favored Position

Anzadam is known for his quick pace and keenness, which Mullins accentuated post-race. The horse’s reputation was built on his Grade 3 success in Fairyhouse at the end of November, setting the stage for success in this, his second Irish outing as a hurdler. Despite the short odds of 1/10 imposed on him by the betting market, Anzadam performed flawlessly, showing no signs of stopping as Paul Townend guided him home.

Seamless Victory

During the race, Anzadam was placed at the back of the three-horse field under Townend’s direction. Only after the final flight did Townend allow the horse to accelerate, resulting in a commanding victory. This performance, coupled with minimal physical effort, proved that Anzadam could potentially make a significant mark in high-profile races such as the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Betting Market Reactions

Paddy Power maintained Anzadam’s odds at 10/1 for the Unibet Champion Hurdle, a thrilling day-one feature of the Cheltenham Festival. Meanwhile, Sky Bet, known for their non-runner no-bet market, offered odds of 8/1 on Anzadam. Their spokesperson, Michael Shinners, stated, “Anzadam remains very interesting. His odds in the NRNB and traditional antepost book reflect the hope he continues to carry for the future of Irish horse racing.”

Paul Townend’s Insights

Townend elaborated on his strategy and observations post-race, pointing out that Anzadam needed to “spit” out his competition and showcasing his ability to accelerate when required. “He came up out of my hands a couple of times, so he’s certainly full of pace,” noted Townend, highlighting the horse’s enormous potential.

Willie Mullins on Anzadam’s Progress

Mullins reinforced these views, emphasizing Anzadam’s potential as a novice chaser. “He put in an extraordinary jump at the third last, which makes me very optimistic about his future. I want to see if he can handle the next step up in racing,” he mentioned, indicating that hopping over to the novice chasing category might be on the cards.

Charlus’s Maiden Hurdle Success

The day was a double for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, as they secured another victory with Charlus in the Get Extra Cheltenham Places Now At BetVictor Maiden Hurdle. The four-year-old French-bred flat horse was led for the majority and finished a clear length and a quarter ahead of Holy See. This success saw him bet down at odds of 20/1 for the JCB Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Trainer’s Perspective

Mullins commended Charlus’s performance, noting, “He settled so well and jumped well for his first run over hurdles.” The trainer hinted at potential future commitments in major races like the Triumph Hurdle, contingent on the horse’s continued improvement.

Dancing City’s Ascendency

In a different fixture, Dancing City continued his dominance with a commanding performance in the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase. Runners-up included Gavin Cromwell’s Bioliminescence, who fought a strong battle but ultimately fell short by three and a half lengths. This performance saw Dancing City cut bookmaker odds to 4/1 (Paddy Power and Betfair) for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

William Mullins on Dancing City

Mullins elaborated on Dancing City’s strengths, asserting, “He jumped and galloped exactly as expected, making him the ideal candidate for the upcoming Cheltenham Festival.” Both opinions on Dancing City reflected optimism for future races, indicating the versatile and competitive nature of Closutton’s stable.

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