Prolific Zanoosh taking on the boys at Punchestown Zanoosh looks to put the seal on a remarkable campaign in the Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Wednesday. Rated just 112 after being beaten on her first three starts over obstacles, Colm Murphy’s charge has since rattled off five consecutive victories and was last seen claiming Grade One glory in the Honeysuckle Mares Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Easter Sunday. The six-year-old had a range of options in County Kildare this week, including the Mares Champion Hurdle on Saturday, but connections have instead opted to stick to novice company and take on the boys over three miles. Murphy said: “On ratings we felt she had the best chance in the three-mile race, so we said we’d let her take her chance there. “We’ll know a lot more about her (after this). Touch wood she seems good and well and you’d be hopeful she can be competitive.” He added: “We’re well aware we’re in bonus territory. Little did we think we’d end up in Punchestown, little did we think we’d end up in Fairyhouse after the winter she’s had, but I think it’s testament to the mare – she seems to be thriving on her racing.” Several of Zanoosh’s rivals contested the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, most notably the second and third – Henry de Bromhead’s Fruit De Mer and The Passing Wife from Gavin Cromwell’s yard. Cromwell said: “He ran a great race in Cheltenham, he seems in great order and we’re looking forward to it. “I think he’ll be fine on the ground. He was running round in bumpers on good ground and it was no issue to him – he’s very versatile to be fair. “They do a great job watering in Punchestown, so I’m sure it’s going to be nice, safe ground.” The Mourne Rambler bids to become the fourth horse in the last five years to follow up Champion Bumper success with victory in the Race & Stay At Punchestown Champion I.N.H. Flat Race. Facile Vega (2022), A Dream To Share (2023) and Bambino Fever have all completed the Grade One double and The Mourne Rambler will be well fancied to follow suit following his impressive Cheltenham Festival success under Colin Keane. With Ireland’s six-time champion Flat jockey ineligible to ride in bumpers on home soil, amateur Declan Lavery will take over in the saddle at Punchestown and while Meade is confident his five-year-old will put up another bold showing, he is taking nothing for granted. “It would be nice to cap the season with the double, but it’s just not that simple,” said the Tu Va stables handler. “I’m very happy with him, everything’s gone well since Cheltenham and I think the fact there’s 10 runners is nice because it’s a tight track for bumper horses and sometimes you can get plenty of trouble around it, but with 10 runners there will be plenty of room for everybody. “There’s a couple of them in it that weren’t at Cheltenham, but our horse has done everything right since he came home and we’ve done everything we wanted to do with him. “He’s a good bit of speed and he has seems to stay quite well. He’s been grand since I got him and everything he’s been asked to do he’s done very well. “We quite possibly will try a Flat race with him somewhere, but after this he will definitely have a break.” Patrick Mullins has opted to ride 21-length Gowran Park winner Dromard as he aims to secure a record-extending sixth victory in this race. His father Willie also saddles The Wager, Love Sign d’Aunou and The Irish Avatar, all of whom finished down the field behind The Mourne Rambler at Prestbury Park last month. The Cromwell-trained Boycetown was beaten three lengths into fourth place at Cheltenham and is in the mix once again. “It’s going to be very hard to beat the favourite, but he’s in good order and we’re happy with him,” Cromwell added. “There’s no reason he won’t run well.”
