Zoffanien Cheltenham bound after impressive win

Zoffanien powered away in the closing stages to land the four-year-old handicap hurdle at Naas.

Denis Hogan 's charge was sent off a solid 6/4 favourite in the race, run over just shy of two miles, having been placed in four of his five outings over timber.

Hugh Morgan took the mount for the first time today and produced the smooth travelling Zoffany gelding to tackle front-runner Rock Chica going to the final flight.

Once Morgan asked his mount to quicken away on the run-in he stretched clear to post a comprehensive nine-length winning margin.

Hogan said:- “He did it nicely and to be fair he’s run into one or two (good horses). He got a few pounds for finishing second the last day so we said that we’d claim the 5lb and Hugh did us no wrong last weekend in the same colours. We gave him irons today!

“He’ll probably go for the Fred Winter now, and he’d no business going for it if he didn’t win today. Hopefully he comes out of that okay and gets there in one piece. He handles soft ground and he stays well.

“The owner Liam Mulryan’s son Hughie bought him in France and he has a good eye for a horse. Liam is a great supporter of mine. He’s great craic and I get on really well with him so I’m thrilled to get winners for him.”

The race sponsors Paddy Power made the winner 12/1 from 20/1 for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)