Flanagan hoping to do Zanahiyr for a turn of foot aboard 'classy' Cask Mate

WKD Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m1f | 4yo+ | RTV

Sean Flanagan knows how to beat Zanahiyr and is busy plotting the likely short-priced favourite's downfall again.

The rider delivered a knockout blow to Zanahiyr supporters at Punchestown last season when driving Jeff Kidder home to beat Gordon Elliott's smart juvenile in the Grade 1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle.

Flanagan is hoping to repeat the trick on another Noel Meade-trained runner here in Cask Mate, who has the benefit of a recent Flat win under his belt.

"How do I plan on getting Zanahiyr beat?" Flanagan mused on Thursday. "Well, you'd have to say that he looked like he struggled for pace late on at Punchestown last year. My lad [Cask Mate] is a Flat winner, has a run under his belt and plenty of pace, so maybe that might swing it in our favour."

Cask Mate: seven-length winner on the Flat at Bellewstown last monthCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Flanagan added: "Cask Mate is classy. All you have to do is go back to the Royal Bond effort behind Ballyadam. We're hopeful and I'm looking forward to getting back on him. He's come out of his win at Bellewstown very well. He probably has a bit to find on ratings but at the same time it's not like he's a no-hoper."

Zanahiyr is likely to head the market. While Elliott doesn't disagree with Flanagan's synopsis of Zanahiyr potentially needing further in time, the trainer acknowledged that this Grade 2 represented a good opportunity for his returning hurdler.

Elliott said: "We're happy with Zanahiyr. He's in good form at home and this looks the ideal starting point for him. I wouldn't be surprised if he stepped up in trip at some stage throughout the season."

It is effectively a two-horse race. John Ryan was already rewarded for his ambitious campaigning of Bonarc as she provided her connections with black-type at Tipperary earlier this month.

What little chance she has of causing an upset, Justice Ears and Monoxide have less.

Neither have a snowball's chance of getting near the top two on ratings but their respective connections will pick up prize-money for getting around at least.

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