The staying hurdle division has been crying out for new blood for some time and Zeus Power has what it takes to challenge at the top level in open company this season.
Although he already has the reigning Stayers' Hurdle champion, Home By the Lee, in his yard, O'Brien has opted to keep Zeus Power over the smaller obstacles, leading him down a path that will eventually see him clash with his older stablemate.
It was a super training performance to get the 11-year-old to win the Stayers' Hurdle at the fifth attempt, but O'Brien knows that he cannot rely solely on just his ageing star next time and clearly sees Zeus Power as the heir to his crown.
On the evidence we have so far, there is every reason to believe that he can make up the successful step into open company...
From bumper defeat to Grade 1 glory
Only handed his first racecourse start in October 2025, Zeus Power failed to get off the mark in a pair of Galway bumpers, finishing runner-up on debut before only managing to come home in third on his next start.
O'Brien quickly took the decision get him over an obstacle, sending him to Thurles just one month later to make his hurdling bow. Despite hitting some trouble in running and showing a touch of greenness, there was plenty of promise to be taken from finishing second behind a smart bumper performer in Riskaway.
Sent out for his second start, again at Thurles, the Protectionist gelding had clearly learned plenty from his debut to pull some 16-lengths clear of dual-subsequent winner Luker's Tipple.
Navan was next up for Zeus Power and a narrow defeat of Lazare de Star -- runner-up in a Listed contest next time out -- booked his place at the Cheltenham Festival and a hike up to 2m5f in the Turners Novices' Hurdle.
Positioned in rear, he could not have been more eye-catching, flying home at 50/1 to finish third, just three-and-a-quarter-lengths behind King Rasko Grey.
Aintree beckoned for the five-year-old and he duly obliged, proving his class by breaking his Grade 1 duck in the Sefton Novices' Hurdle. Despite doing plenty wrong, he strode out an impressive two-and-three-quarter-length winner, leaving Albert Bartlett hero Johnny's Jury behind him in third.
Form boost after form boost
There is an argument to suggest that the Tuners Novices' Hurdle has worked out better than any other race ran at the Festival last March.
The winner, King Rasko Grey, landed the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival next time out and, the fifth, Bossman Jack, won the Grade 1 Mersey Hurdle; leading home a 1-2-3 that included Soldier Reeves and Ballyfad - the fourth and 10th from the Turners.
Of those Zeus Power defeated in the Sefton, the runner-up is yet to reappear; third, Johnny's Jury, had just won at the Cheltenham Festival and the fourth, Frankie John, is now a Grade 3 winner over fences.
On the surface, one may look at the Sefton and come to the conclusion that it isn't the best guide for the Stayers' Hurdle winners, however, there simply aren't many that try.
2025 victor Julius Des Pictons missed the whole of last season with injury and the previous eight before him all went chasing the following year. In fact, Thistlecrack was the last horse to remain over hurdles after winning the Sefton - a season in which he won the Stayers' Hurdle.
Opposition thin on the ground
Like I said at the start, the staying division has been crying out for a younger horse to take it by storm, the problem being, most go onto tackle fences straight after their novice hurdle year.
Of last season's novices: King Rasko Grey, Bossman Jack, Johnny's Jury, Act Of Innocence are all set to go chasing, ruling much of the competition before the season has even started.
Last year's winner, Home By The Lee, will be 12 by the time next March rolls around, the runner-up, Ballyburn, soon turns nine and third-place Bob Olinger was retired after a fitting success at the Punchestown Festival.
There are holes to pick in many that are left.
The New Lion is the current favourite, but this hike up in trip is very much an afterthought as a result of his Champion Hurdle dreams going up in smoke. There is no real suggestion that he will relish the three miles given the way he races, however, being by Kayf Tara, he does have a chance on pedigree.
Willie Mullins is obviously one to be wary of and he will likely have Jasmin De Vaux. Huge positives can be taken by his record at the track but his jumping does leave a lot to be desired and who knows how he will return from an injury that ruled him out of the entirety of last season.
Fourth in the betting, Jimmy Du Seuil, failed to make it as a chaser and is yet to prove that he is truly a Grade 1 performer.
