The Colm Murphy-trained nine-year-old is undoubtedly a talented performer but has had more than his fair share of tumbles in recent seasons as his record of five falls from his last 11 outings over both hurdles and fences bears testament. An old injury to a ligament in his near-fore leg has flared up again meaning that Murphy won’t be able to have the gelding fit enough to run at Cheltenham. Instead, the horse who was generally quoted at Cheltenham betting odds of 33/1 for the two-mile-five-furlong Ryanair Chase, will be given more time to recover and hopefully return later in the term, possibly at Punchestown in April.
A smart bumper horse in his youth, the gelded son of Tiraaz has only once in his career left the shores of Ireland and that was when bidding for the 2008 Cheltenham Festival Bumper, where he eventually finished a good third to Cousin Vinny, having been sent off the 3/1 favourite. Although he has never won any graded contest over obstacles there have been a number of occasions when Zaarito has looked as though he might be about to land a big pot, only for his jumping to let him down at a crucial stage. The most recent example was when coming to take up the running at the third last in the Grade 1 Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse last April, only to take a nasty fall from which he thankfully recovered quickly.
Murphy’s charge has only had the one outing so far this term when running with credit at Fairyhouse in December to finish second to Golden Silver in the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase.
Tags: cheltenham, festival, ireland, ladbrokes, ryanair chaseShare
