Zaar goes for gold
The eight-year-old has won just twice from six starts over fences but bounced back from two crunching falls at Leopardstown to score at Naas earlier this month.
He is set to return to Grade One company this weekend and his trainer could not be happier with his current condition.
“It’s a case of so far so good and he seems really well, so roll on Sunday,” said Murphy.
“The annoying thing about him is he is a very good jumper when he wants to be, but maybe he’s a little bit to brave for his own good. The Powers Gold Cup has been the plan since Christmas and we always thought better ground would suit him.
“Unfortunately it’s going to be soft this weekend but he’s handled it before and I’m hoping Davy Condon will ride him again.”
Noel Meade has left in Fisher Bridge, Jered and Nicanor – but the latter two are looking doubtful runners due to the likely testing conditions.
Both horses contested the Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last time but Jered fell at the first fence and hampered his stable companion in the process.
“Jered landed on top of the horse in front of him and came down, and Nicanor ran straight into him and got a belt,” Meade told At The Races.
“That actually burst him and he’s never burst a blood vessel before.
“Thankfully Paul (Carberry) pulled him up and he’s been in good form since he came home, but I wouldn’t be that happy about the wet ground for him.
“We always thought he was a better horse on reasonable ground and, at the moment, it looks like it’s going to be very heavy.
“Jered has always been better on good ground and it wasn’t really his fault at Cheltenham as he almost jumped the fence too well and landed on the horse in front of him.
“He had no option but to go down but he seems fine and has schooled since then.
“We’ve left him in the race but I couldn’t say for certain he’d run at this stage as the ground is going to be very heavy.”
Willie Mullins has a strong hand, having left in Kempes and Shakervilz, while other interesting contenders include Jadanli, Let Yourself Go and Psycho.
