Grade Two winning hurdler Zanahiyr recorded a first victory in nearly two years when taking the Paddy Power Hurdle at Punchestown on Tuesday.
On paper, it should have been a straight forward task for Zanahiyr on seasonal reappearance with only two rivals in a considerably lower grade hurdle than he is used to. However, the entries had attracted quality not quantity and the six-year-old faced Prix Du Cadran third Run For Oscar and stablemate Andy Dufresne in search of a first victory since the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle in October 2021.
It was a solid pace with both Zanahiyr and Run For Oscar keen to dominate from the front, so jockey Jack Kennedy was forced to settle in second aboard Zanihyr until three out. The gelding joined Run For Oscar before hitting the front after the last flight and kept on well to score by two-and-a-half lengths. Andy Dufresne finished third.
"I thought we were very beatable first run back and to be honest I wasn't going to run him only there was a very small entry. Jack said he had a couple of blows and was delighted with him – he jumped well," said trainer Gordon Elliott.
"He was entitled to do it on ratings, but it's not always that easy. We thought we might get a soft lead but it was an honest gallop and Philip put the gun to our head the whole way.
"I'll talk to Noel and Valerie [Moran, owners] to see what they think [about plans]. There is a lot of prize-money to be picked up in conditions hurdles and he has no Grade One penalty, so he can step back into Grade Twos and Threes.
"I'd say you could see him in anything from two-mile-five back to two miles. You know he's going to wear his heart on his sleeve and try his best for you.
"The way he jumps a hurdle you would say he would jump a fence, so I wouldn't rule it out."
