ANZADAM CUT TO 10-1 FOR ARKLE AFTER IMPRESSIVE CHASING DEBUT AT NAAS

Willie Mullins has another exciting novice chaser on his hands after Anzadam made a successful transition to fences at Naas on Sunday, prompting Paddy Power to halve his price and more for the Arkle at next year's Cheltenham Festival.

The six-year-old, a Grade Three winner over hurdles at the Kildare track, started 8-13 favourite for the two-mile Into Kildare Beginners Chase under Paul Townend. He came home seven lengths clear of Eachtotheirown, the 7-2 second, with 12-1 chance Arcadian Emperor half a length further back in third.

Paddy Power responded by cutting the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned gelding from 25-1 to 10-1 for the Arkle.

JUMPING TAKES THE EYE

Mullins was particularly taken with how the gelding handled the switch to larger obstacles and how well he settled through the race. "He seems to have taken to jumping (fences) way better than hurdles," the champion trainer told Racing TV.

Townend suggested that chasing could be the making of a horse who has always shown plenty of ability, reasoning that having fences to deal with might encourage him to concentrate more on the job in hand.

The result offered Mullins some consolation on an afternoon when his odds-on Kopek Des Bordes was beaten by Irish Panther in the Grade Three feature on the same card.

LEOPARDSTOWN NEXT ON THE AGENDA

Attention now turns to the festive period, with the Closutton trainer indicating that Leopardstown is the likely next stop. "I'd imagine Christmas (at Leopardstown) will be a nice plan," he said, adding that he was anticipating a good season if Anzadam continues to progress.

Sunday's win means the gelding will go into the winter as one of the more interesting names in the two-mile novice division, with several months still to run before the Arkle picture becomes clearer.