The early winter schedule could be in for an almighty jolt if Willie Mullins’ unbeaten Anzadam locks horns with Constitution Hill at Newcastle.

𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Unbeaten hurdler Anzadam has been ruled out for the season after picking up an injury at Naas, @WillieMullinsNH has confirmed.pic.twitter.com/7h90hbp03Z

— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) January 30, 2025

The five-year-old, who missed the spring festivals after a setback at Naas, is now back to full health — and his trainer sounds quietly bullish that a clear run might see him step straight into open Grade One company.

“Anzadam looks to have enough potential to go down the Champion Hurdle route,” said Mullins. “There’s been little bits of bother with him but this year everything has been good. He has the ability but sometimes his training schedule gets interrupted.”

There’s a touch of the master planner about this one — not least as State Man, his fellow Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned stablemate, is already earmarked for the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. Keeping the pair apart is as much diplomacy as design.

“If I can get a clear run into him, I think we’re looking at going for the Fighting Fifth with him. Like State Man he’s owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly and there seems little point in both of them going for the Morgiana.

It’s more to keep an owners’ horses apart than looking at the (British) championship, but obviously that’s no harm either.”

BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle
£115,000 guaranteed, 4yo plus, 1m 7f 216y, Class 1
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