Zaidpour lands Grade 1 Christmas glory

Ruby Walsh and Zaidpour triumphed in a tactical affair involving four runners in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Rank outsider Whatuthink took them along but Rule The World and Davy Russell moved alongside at the fifth last. At this stage Walsh had Zaidpour racing last, but only a couple of lengths away.

As the race unfolded Walsh switched Zaidpour to the right as they jumped the last behind Rule The World. The seven-year-old then quickened up well on the run-in to justify 5/4 favouritism by four and a quarter lengths. Rule The World at 10/3 was second, three and a half lengths ahead of Mala Beach

Handler Willie Mullins said: “He came back in very strong. We put cheekpieces on him at Fairyhouse and they worked well. I took them off as I thought he would be too free over three miles, but he was very free without them.

“Physically there has been huge improvement in him. He’s better now than he was before and that’s very unusual. This is his ground and track and he’s going to be hard to place now.”

Morning-price favourite Solwhit was a non-runner due to being found lame this morning. This was Zaidpour’s third success at the highest level. He also has three victories at Grade 2 level to his name.

This gave Willie Mullins a double at Leopardstown as Sure Reef shed his maiden tag in the opener. He made it an across-the-card treble courtesy of Faugheen who impressively secured the Grade 3 Liberty Insurance Novice Hurdle in Limerick.

Additional reporting by Gary Carson