Zaidpour too good for Hatton's Grace rivals Mrs Susannah Ricci, Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh took their second Grade 1 of the day when the earlier gains achieved with Arvika Ligeonniere were added to by Zaidpour in the Bar One Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. The well-backed joint market-leader, winner of the 2010 Royal Bond, was brought by Walsh with one withering run from the second last. His stable companion, So Young had made the running until 'missing' the second last. Joint-favourite Voler La Vedette was then briefly in front but she proved no match for Zaidpour who went on to beat the staying-on Monksland by two and a half lengths. Mullins said: "It was a fantastic result and he's stronger this year. "A lot of my horses didn't do well on grass but they seem stronger. "They came in looking a bit rough but the mental break is good for them rather than the grass itself. "We might go down the World Hurdle route. I think he'll improve. He's good enough to run in a Champion Hurdle but the obvious thing would be to go over a longer trip. "I doubt he'll take on Hurricane Fly but he'll be entered for all the races over Christmas. "He has the pace for two miles but he has plenty of stamina as well. "It depends on what runners we have but I'd imagine he'll go further – over two and a half or three miles. "Himself and Thousand Stars fall into the same kind of bracket. "I have to give a lot of credit to Virginie who rides him out all the time. She does a lot of slow work on him and keeps him right as he had shoulder trouble when we got him." Zaidpour is 20/1 (from 50s) for the World Stayers Hurdle and 33/1 (from 50s) for the Champion Hurdle with Stan James. Paddy Power go Big Buck's evens (from 4/5) and Zaidpour 16/1 (from 33s) for the World Hurdle. (GC & EM)
