Zarak bounces back and lands the 'Limestone Lad'

Galway Hurdle winner Zarak The Brave erased the memory of an October pulled-up run when bouncing back to win Naas' Grade 3 Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle today.

Last August the Willie Mullins-trained gelding became the first four-year-old to win the Galway showpiece since 2000 but was subsequently reported to be clinically abnormal when pulling up at halfway at Tipperary in October.

Today he reappeared against three inferior-rated rivals under regular rider Paul Townend and having raced slightly off the pace, quickened approaching the final bend. Zarak The Brave won in workmanlike manner, beating 2021 Cheltenham Mares' Novice Hurdle winner Telmesomethinggirl by 1.25 lengths.

Trainer Mullins reported “it’s nice to put that bad run in Tipperary behind him and we felt he’d been doing things nice at home. He might need a longer trip as he’s getting settled now compared to what he used to be like. I’m very pleased to get him back on track.

“He’s only in the Champion Hurdle (at Cheltenham) and I’m not sure if he’ll go there. We might look at a few of the Graded races at Fairyhouse over Easter.”

Regarding the Tipperary disappointment, he added "it's not quite a heart defibrillation and sometimes horses get what we call 'the thumps' but it is something they get over the following day although some take a while to get over it.

"It happens but with very little help a horse can get over it, they just need time. This fellow got time and while we tried to get him ready for another race, the condition came back so we gave him another break. Now he is back fine again, all his work for the last three weeks has been very good so we took our chance and he looks fine afterwards."

Today's race is run in honour of 32-years-young Limestone Lad whose 35 wins include four Grade 1 successes and a famous 1999 defeat of Istabraq.

Quotes from Alan Magee