Mullins and Townend double up with unexposed Anzadam

Champion Hurdle 'dark horse' Anzadam enjoyed a hack around Naas in the three runner Limestone Lad Hurdle.

He enhanced Willie Mullins' fine record in this Grade 3 as he has now landed five of the last six renewals.

The 1/10 favourite raced in third and travelled all over his rivals - Beacon Edge and Laafi - after the penultimate flight.

He eased to the front at the last and sailed away a furlong out to cruise home by a widening 11 lengths from Beacon Edge who won the battle for second.

Anzadam brought up a double for Mullins and Paul Townend as they also took the preceding maiden hurdle with Charlus

Mullins said: “That was a very good performance. Paul gave him a squeeze after the last and he quickened away nicely. There was no sign of him stopping.

“He has a good engine and is climbing up the tree nicely. He could be anything.

“He’s in the Champion Hurdle, but maybe we should wait for Aintree. That looks appealing and he’s still only five.

“The jump he put in at the third last I thought was extraordinary and showed me that we’ll have no trouble going novice chasing with him when we want.

“We’ll see how far we can go with hurdling and see what his owners would like to do.”

French-bred Anzadam also won a Grade 3 on Irish debut at Fairyhouse in November by an eased down six and a-half lengths.

Paddy Power kept Anzadam unchanged at 10/1 for the Champion Hurdle.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee