Willie Mullins confirms unbeaten superstar is OUT of Cheltenham Festival with season-ending injury

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WILLIE MULLINS has confirmed one of his unbeaten superstars is out of Cheltenham Festival with a season-ending injury.

Anzadam was as short as 8-1 for the Champion Hurdle after a blistering start to life under the Closutton boss.

Paul Townsend at the Cheltenham Festival.
Anzadam being out for the season is a fresh headache for Willie Mullins – but he still has a huge squad to take to Cheltenham

Owned by Joe and Marie Donnelly of State Man, Sir Gino and Lulamba fame, Anzadam had won both starts for Mullins after arriving from France unbeaten in two.

His most recent victory came in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad at Naas last weekend.

Jockey Paul Townend said after victory ‘the dream is still alive’ with regards to top future targets.

But unfortunately they have now all been dashed just as the jumps season reaches overdrive.

Mullins said in his Sporting Life column: “Unfortunately Anzadam picked up a little injury at Naas and won’t be ready for Aintree.

“I don’t feel it’s prudent to try and rush him back for Punchestown so he’ll miss the remainder of the season.”

While Anzadam was short in the betting for the Champion Hurdle, Mullins had indicated the five-year-old was more likely to head to the Grand National Festival.

Frustratingly, while clearly a massively talented horse, Anzadam also appears to be pretty fragile.

Mullins was gutted he had to miss last year’s Cheltenham through injury as well.

The champion trainer said he held Anzadam in the same regard as last year’s Triumph winner Majborough.

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Speaking recently on Anzadam’s potential, Mullins said: “We had him as a juvenile and he gave himself a bang.”

“I was so disappointed we couldn’t get him to Cheltenham, even though we had Majborough in the race and others.

“Anzadam was right up there with them, so that’s the sort of company I’d hold him in.”

Mullins will still have a big say in the Champion Hurdle, though, with defending champ State Man and Lossiemouth taking on Constitution Hill.

Both of Mullins’ runners have been declared for Sunday’s Irish Champion Hurdle, with No1 jockey Townend opting for State Man over Rich Ricci’s awesome mare.

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