Behtarini & Ebanour now at National Hunt game Twelve months back Behtarini was being touted as possibly the best maiden in Ireland after three juvenile efforts saw as many second placings, including behind subsequent Group 1 winner Jan Vermeer. A year on the hitherto disappointing Dalakhani gelding embarks on a new phase of his career, over jumps for Evan Williams. Williams, who enjoyed Grade 1 success with another Aga Khan-bred in Barizan, at Punchestown last spring, picked up Behtarini for £17,000 at Doncaster last November. Behtarini runs in the first at Hereford today, the Lindley Catering Conditional Jockeys’ Novices' Hurdle. He will be partnered by Aodhagan Conlon and he will have to contend with four rivals – chief among which are Red Merlin (Donald McCain & Henry Brooke) and Paddy Partridge (Tim Vaughan & Richie Killoran). Another sold from the Currabeg Stables of John Oxx on that occasion was Ebanour. He came to the Doncaster November Sale unraced but highly recommended by Oxx and the half-brother to 2007 Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Ebaziyan, Ebanour was bought for £120,000. He is a son of the Irish Oaks and French Leger heroine, Ebadiyla, who is in turn a half-sister to leading two-year-old filly Edabiya and Gold Cup winner Enzeli. On outing number one for Tim Leslie, Donald McCain and Jason Maguire, Ebanour justified a very skinny price in convincing fashion at Wetherby 29 days ago and it will be disappointing if he doesn't go in again when he contests the finale at Haydock, the TurfTV Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race. City Press, representing Trevor Hemmings, Nicky Henderson and Andrew Tinkler, is one of Ebanour's most interesting opponents.
