Zaidpour takes tactical affair

A decision on whether Zaidpour #8217;s Cheltenham Festival target will be the Stan James Champion Hurdle or the Ladbrokes World Hurdle isn’t any closer after the Willie Mullins-trained gelding completed a hat-trick this term in a slowly run John Mulhern Galmoy Hurdle.

The three mile Grade 2 event turned into a tactical affair with Ruby Walsh setting a steady pace aboard the six-year-old gelding on the first circuit before Whatuthink took a marginal lead.

Zaidpour (11/8) was back in front as Walsh increased the tempo early in the straight and, try as Voler La Vedette (4/6) did to close the gap under Andrew Lynch, Mullins’ charge kept on well from the last to repel the favourite by a length.

Mullins said, “The tactics and ride won it for him. Ruby gave him a very sharp ride. I don’t know where he’ll go at Cheltenham, the Champion or the World Hurdle.

“Today’s race wasn’t a trial for either race as they went no gallop but his connections would like to run at Cheltenham. That’s his ground.”

Ruby Walsh didn’t plan to make the running but was left with little choice as he explained, “It was clear at the start that nobody was going to make it so I sauntered along in front.

“He’s a Grade 1 winner at two miles so he’s got speed. He loves soft ground, and you couldn’t have it soft enough for him.”

Stan James cut Zaidpour into 12/1 (from 20's) for the World Hurdle.