Zaidpour setback for Mullins

Willie Mullins has revealed that smart recruit Zaidpour will not see a racecourse this season after suffering a setback.

The former Alain Royer-Dupre inmate is a half-brother to last season’s Triumph Hurdle hero Zaynar and having been heavily backed for the same contest in ante-post lists, Zaidpour had been as short as 14-1 for Festival glory.

While he is still in training, Mullins has decided to give this season a miss with a view to retaining his novice status for the next campaign.

“He won’t run this season now, unfortunately, as he got a cut while schooling on Monday and I won’t be able to have him ready for the big races,” said the champion trainer.

“He’s in training now but we felt we might as well draw stumps for this season so he can still be a novice next year.”