Zanahiyr's clumsy American Grand National hurdle win gives trainer 5-race sweep

At times early in Saturday’s Grade 1 American Grand National at Far Hills, N.J., Zanahiyr was clumsy over hurdles, sometimes erratic and at one point nearly caused jockey Jack Kennedy to be unseated.

With two hurdles remaining in the $250,000 race at 2 5/8 miles, Zanahiyr was still sixth. What he did through the final half-mile and at the last obstacle of the $250,000 Grand National led to a historic win in the richest jump racing in the United States.

Zanahiyr ($6.60) reached contention on the turn, jumped the last hurdle well and fought past a sustained challenge from 3-2 favorite Ballysax Hank to win by about a head.

The victory gave Irish trainer Gordon Elliott an unprecedented sweep of the five hurdle races on the six-race program.

“I was never really happy on him,” Kennedy said in a television interview. “He’s an honest horse and tried his heart out. He galloped his heart out.

“The hurdles are different than what we have in Ireland. I don’t think he enjoyed it too much. He was very slow at his hurdles today. It took a while to get him into his jumping.

“I was hoping I hadn’t used up too much to finish out the race.”

Ballysax Hank, trained in Ireland by Gavin Cromwell, finished well clear of 28-1 Howyabud. Snap Decision, the winner of the 2024 Grand National and the Eclipse Award as the nation’s outstanding steeplechaser of 2024, finished fourth in his fourth consecutive appearance in the race.

Elliott, one of Ireland’s leading jump trainers, won the 2018 Grand National with Jury Duty and had three winners on the 2023 Far Hills program. Last year, the Elliott-trained Galvin was second to Snap Decision in the Grand National.

Earlier on Saturday, Elliott and Kennedy won the $75,000 Harry Harris Hurdle for 4-year-olds with Chortal ($6.60), a $70,000 maiden hurdle with We’re Back Again ($8.20), and the $100,000 Peapack Hurdle for fillies and mares with Emily Love ($3.40). Danny Gilligan rode Coutach ($5.40) to a win in the $150,000 Foxbrook Champion Hurdle for novices.

Zanahiyr was Elliott’s only winner that was not favored.

“Five is stuff you dream of,” Elliott said in a phone interview.

Elliott was quick to credit Kennedy for his ride aboard Zanahiyr.

“He didn’t jump great,” Elliott said. “Jack gave him a great ride.”

Zanahiyr, an 8-year-old gelding by Nathaniel, has won 10 of 38 starts in a career that began in flat races in 2019. The American Grand National was Zanahiyr’s third consecutive win, preceded by a steeplechase at 2 3/4 miles at Galway Racecourse on Aug. 3 and a handicap at 2 1/8 miles on the flat at Bellewstown Racecourse on Aug. 26.

Elliott said Zanahiyr would be shipped back to Ireland before racing plans are finalized.

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