WILLIE MULLINS has warned an awesome Cheltenham horse he thinks is ‘something special’ could miss the Festival altogether.
Dubbed a ‘bit of a weapon’ by punters, Anzadam has looked every inch a superstar for the Closutton boss.
Champion Hurdle contender? 👀
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 26, 2025
Anzadam retains his unbeaten tag in impressive fashion to win the Grade 3 @NaasRacecourse Business Club Limestone Lad 🟡⚫️@WillieMullinsNH | @PTownend pic.twitter.com/cM8FvAC2rI
He took the Grade 3 Limestone Lad with ease last weekend for top owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, who also own State Man, among a whole host of other top class runners.
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Still just five, talk of a potential tilt at the Champion Hurdle had been mooted for Anzadam, who’s won all four of his career races.
But Mullins isn’t so sure, despite him being as short as 8-1.
He thinks waiting for Aintree and a race over a new trip entirely may be the best call, especially with State Man likely to take on Constitution Hill at Cheltenham.
Speaking after Anzadam’s latest win, Mullins said: “That was a very good performance.
“Paul (Townend, jockey) gave him a squeeze after the last and he quickened away nicely. There was no sign of him stopping.
“He has a good engine and is climbing up the tree nicely. He could be anything.
“He’s in the Champion Hurdle but maybe we should wait for Aintree. I’m thinking whether we should wait for the 2m4f Grade 1 there instead.
“That looks appealing and he’s still only five.
“The jump he put in at the third last I thought was extraordinary and showed me that we’ll have no trouble going novice chasing with him when we want.
“We’ll see how far we can go with hurdling and see what his owners would like to do.”
This weekend should tell us more about Mullins’ pecking order for the Champion Hurdle.
State Man is the defending champ but he was thrashed by Brighterdaysahead when last seen.
While Lossiemouth was humbled by Nicky Henderson’s stable star in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.
Both Lossiemouth and State Man are due to contest the Irish Champion Hurdle, while Brighterdaysahead appears set to go to the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham and will swerve the Dublin Racing Festival altogether.
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