Anzadam strolled to a straightforward triumph for Willie Mullins in the Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle.
The five-year-old was the 1-10 favourite and expected to win at a canter, with his prior record unblemished after two wins in France and a Grade Three victory on seasonal debut in the WillowWarm Hurdle at Fairyhouse.
He was ridden by Paul Townend at the same grade at Naas, where he faced only two rivals in Gordon Elliott's Beacon Edge and William Durkan’s Laafi.
As anticipated Anzadam had little trouble dismissing both, kicking clear over the final flight to cruise home 11 lengths ahead of Laafi to remain a 10-1 chance for the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival – though his participation is not certain.
Anzadam maintains his unbeaten record and wins handsomely as expected for a satisfying days work for @PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/tle8akbYHh
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 26, 2025
"That was a very good performance. Paul gave him a squeeze after the last and he quickened away nicely. There was no sign of him stopping," said Mullins.
"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. 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."
Dancing City also scored a Grade Three success for Willie Mullins, winning the Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase in the same colours as Anzadam..
The 8-11 favourite was ridden by Paul Townend in a field of five as he stepped up to a trip of three miles and a furlong for the first time on testing ground.
The eight-year-old was always in command and jumped well throughout to come home three and a half lengths to the good, subsequently being cut to favouritism for the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival.
Dancing City showed a fine burst of speed after the last to keep on strongly and run away from Bioluminescence to make it 3 on the bounce for Townend and Mullins today at Naas@PTownend | @WillieMullinsNH pic.twitter.com/Un8xwZqSBP
— Naas Racecourse (@NaasRacecourse) January 26, 2025
"Paul said he's so settled, he’s exactly what you’d want for a three-mile chaser," said Mullins.
"He gallops and jumps and only does what he’s asked to do.
"I was very pleased with the performance in what is very, very testing ground.
"He looks like one for the Brown Advisory."
Charlus got his National Hunt career off to a winning start when taking the Get Extra Cheltenham Places Now At BetVictor Maiden Hurdle for the champion trainer.
The four-year-old had some strong form on the Flat for Jean-Claude Rouget, winning three times and then placing second in a Listed event at three.
He holds an entry for the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, so is clearly well regarded by connections and started the 10-11 favourite under Paul Townend on his hurdling bow.
At the first time of asking, he got the job done when coming home a length and a quarter to the good, with the rest of the field fairly well strung out behind him.
"That was a very pleasing first run for a Churchill off the Flat. I was afraid he’d be too keen and was really pleased how he settled and jumped," said Mullins.
"He had a couple of little setbacks earlier in the season and we’re hoping that he’ll improve enough to merit his entry in the Triumph Hurdle."
Terence O’Brien’s Answer To Kayf has bigger things in store after a smart win in the Clinton Higgins Chartered Accountants Novice Handicap Chase.
The nine-year-old was the 7-4 favourite under 5lb claimer John Shinnick and seemed to enjoy the soft going when striding to an easy 12-length victory after a neat round of jumping.
It was a first success over fences for the horse, who made up the minor places in some competitive beginners chases earlier in the term and was fourth in the Martin Pipe contest over hurdles at Cheltenham last season.
"I suppose heavy ground makes a huge difference and a drop in class too. It just goes to show how good those beginners chases are, as he couldn’t get a blow in," said O’Brien.
"We’re hoping to go to Cheltenham with him but I suppose the handicapper is going to give him a fair lump for that.
"The two-mile four-furlong novice handicap chase (the Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase) is the only one he can run in. There is a three-mile five-furlong novice as well, but you have to be in the first four over three miles and he hasn’t run over three miles.
"The owners are thrilled and get a great buzz out of it. This has been a dream horse for them.
"At the end of the year, an Irish National might not be out of the question."
Ballybow got off the mark over hurdles with a wide-margin victory in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle for Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing.
A 9-2 chance who was luckless when a runner-up last time out, he was an easy winner this time, securing a nine-length victory from the favourite Kalix Delabarriere, with the former top-class bumper horse A Dream To Share well beaten in fourth.
The concluding BetVictor’s 60 Euro New Customer Offer (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race went the way of Gavin Cromwell’s Champagne Jury, who made his rules debut under Declan Lavery to score by five lengths at 8-1.
