Zaarito to step up in Deloitte

Colm Murphy is aiming Zaarito at the Grade One Deloitte Novices Hurdle at Leopardstown in just under two weeks time.

The gelding won at Punchestown last month and the performance proved to the trainer that Zaarito was beginning to get the hang of the hurdling game. A crack at Grade One glory is now on the cards.

"He's very good and came out of his last race very well. To be honest it is all systems go and we hope to go for the Deloitte Hurdle at Leopardstown in two weeks time," said Murphy.

Zaarito will no doubt face a stern test if he does turn up at Leopardstown, although his trainer is well aware of the task in hand. He said: "The entries are very hot. The race will tell us a lot more and will help us decide where to go with him later on in the year."

Trainer Willie Mullins is also sure to have a few of his big guns attending the race in two weeks time, but Murphy believes that Zaarito is a force to be reckoned with.

"He has to be right up there. Hurricane Fly looks exceptional and Cousin Vinny has done nothing wrong and going on last season's Champion Bumper form we can't be too far behind them, so we are hoping that he'll improve a bit from last year and if he does, it should make him very competitive," said the trainer.

The seven-year-old is to head to Cheltenham after the Deloitte Hurdle, where he could face a potential rematch with a couple of the Mullins' brigade.

"Cheltenham is very much on the agenda. The horse has an entry in the Supreme Novices Hurdle and he also has an entry in the Ballymore Properties Hurdle," Murphy added.