Paul Townend won on Anzadam

Anzadam into 10/1 for Arkle at Cheltenham following chasing debut win at Naas

Horse Racing

Sun November 08, 2026 · 19 min ago

Anzadam won the Into Kildare Beginners Chase at Naas, prompting Paddy Power and Sky Bet to cut him to 10/1 for the Arkle.

Trained by Willie Mullins for owners Joe and Marie Donnelly, the six-year-old Anzadam was sent off the 8/13 favourite first time out over fences and, unlike stablemate Kopek Des Bordes earlier on the card, he didn't disappoint those who took the short prices.

Four-time hurdle winner Anzadam attacked the first couple of obstacles before settling in second as main market rival Eachtotheirown (7/2) took them along in the two-mile contest. He was scruffy over the third but better at the next and the market leader's jumping held up well from that stage.

Eachtotheirown and Anzadam remained first and second until soon after bypassing the normal second-last and the winner was in front by the last, soon putting daylight between himself and the rest. Eachtotheirown stick to the task to fill the runner-up spot but was beaten seven lengths, half a length ahead of Arcadian Emperor (12/1) in third.

"I was taken by him," Townend said on Racing TV. "He behaved himself well, jumped well and pulled out plenty.

"The two of us (first and second) both had a job pulling up after the line. I thought it was a nice round on the whole, he went a bit left at times and a bit right at times, but I'd say he's just quirky.

"He's always showed a whole amount of promise and maybe fences will just make him think about it a bit more."

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Nicky Henderson's Sky Bet Supreme winner Old Park Star still tops the Arkle market at 3/1 ahead of the Dan Skelton-trained Kabral Du Mathan, with Anzadam cut to 10s from 25s by Paddy Power and Sky Bet.

Mullins said on Racing TV: "Passing the winning post first time round he was probably a length behind with two horses on his tail and he (Townend) had a loop in the reins. And it's a long while since I've seen Anzadam like that, early in a race anyhow.

"I love the way he settled. He seems to have taken to jumping (fences) way better than hurdles. We thought last year that he had an engine to be a Champion Hurdle contender, so hopefully he has the same engine and he can be a good novice chaser."

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