Zafayan jumps the last under Davy Russell© Photo Healy Racing
Zafayan finally got off the mark over flights as he made virtually all to take the opener at Killarney, the Seamusweldon.com Maiden Hurdle.
Third in the Chester Cup in May the Dermot Weld trained four-year-old twice finished second over hurdles at the Galway Festival.
Having his seventh start over timber here he opened at 4/5 last night, starting on-course at just 2/5 before going off the clear 1/3 favourite.
Sent to the front after the first hurdle he was marginally headed by Annadiamond at the third last.
However he quickly regained the lead when pushed along and stretched clear after two out, going on to score easily by eleven lengths.
Newcomer Kk Lexion kept on well to take second at 100/1 under Ben Dalton for Pat Colville while Annadiamond was a further neck back in third under Brian O'Connell for Garrett Power at 9/1.
Davy Russell said afterwards: "My initial tactics weren't to make it but there was a lot of ducking and diving at the first though so I thought he had enough experience to make it.
"I let him go on and that was grand."
STEWARDS REPORTS
D.E. Mullins, rider of Camlann trained by John Joseph Hanlon, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his mount jumped big.
B.J. Cooper, rider of Lyreen Des Pres trained by Thomas Cooper, reported to the Clerk of Scales that his saddle slipped in running.
The Stewards fined Eugene M. O'Sullivan, trainer, €350 for lodging a passport in respect of Kicker King in which the vaccinations did not conform with the provisions of Rule 91. The Stewards allowed the horse to run on receipt of the trainer's written assurance that the vaccinations were in order.
Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
