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“Aintree Hurdle is made for him”: Gordon Elliot confirms Merseyside raid including big hopes for stable-star in Grade 1
Cheltenham third Zanahiyr will bid to get back to winning ways in Britain next week, Gordon Elliot says
Gordon Elliot confirms that Zanahiyr has come out of the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham “very well” and he will be upped in trip at the Grand National Festival next week.
The Cullentra chief has also stated that he will send between five and six representatives for the showpiece event on the Saturday, while Piped Piper, third in the Triumph, will aim to go two better in the Juvenile.
Conflated is none the worse for tipping up in the Ryanair and will step back up to three miles in the Bowl.
Speaking to the Racing Post, Elliot stated: “I’ll have five or six for the Grand National, Conflated for the Bowl, Pied Piper for the Juvenile Hurdle, Mighty Stowaway for the Hunters’ Chase and Zanahiyr for the Aintree Hurdle.
“I think the Aintree Hurdle is absolutely made for Zanahiyr.
“You’re obviously a bit nervous with the race being so close to Cheltenham and he’s had a few hard races this season, but he seems to have come out of the Champion Hurdle very well.
“He ran a cracker at Cheltenham and I’d say that was a career-best from him. I think the Stayers’ Hurdle will suit him next season.”
The handler also says that the future of Run Wild Fred, second in the National Hunt Chase, is to be decided with his options remaining both Liverpool or Fairyhouse for the Irish Grand National.
“Run Wild Fred will either go here or to Aintree, no decision has been made yet. Mount Ida and Escaria Ten go to Aintree, so does Farclas.
“Hardline could go to Fairyhouse. We haven’t made a decision on Samcro and Coko Beach yet and there are a few others who could come into the reckoning as well.”
