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I’m intrigued to see how Zarkandar gets on this year. The form of the Triumph he won, as mentioned several times previously, has worked out about as well any novice race I can remember in years gone by.
He suffered a setback at the start of last term which didn’t help, but to win the Betfair on return off top weight took some doing. He may well have encountered the bounce factor when Cheltenham came round. That coupled with the epidemic that was spreading round Ditcheat around the same time could well account for a mediocre run in this last season. It would have taken a lot to win the race at 5 in any case.
Coming back fresh this year with a full season ahead, he could have every chance in a race full of horses who have something to prove. 14/1 looks good value at this stage.
Horses returning to the Champion for another crack do have a good record, so you may have a point with Zarkandar but he just never struck as an obvious CH horse. He did run on very strongly when it was all over in the Champion, but was slightly off the bridle at Aintree over 2m4f before coming down.
I’m looking forward to Darlan and Grandouet this year, along with Cinders and Ashes. I’ve backed all of them to win the Champion, it should be the target for each of them. Darlan has a good profile and will hopefully improve futher. Grandouet has an awesome cruising speed and two miles is definitely his trip. Cinders is tough, won at the festival and again, has a really nice profile.
Hurricane ran a flat race at both Cheltenham and Punchestown this year so it’ll be interesting to see if he comes back. I’d like to see him go for the Aintree hurdle at some point.
Horses returning to the Champion for another crack do have a good record, so you may have a point with Zarkandar but he just never struck as an obvious CH horse. He did run on very strongly when it was all over in the Champion, but was slightly off the bridle at Aintree over 2m4f before coming down.
My thought was that he was rushed back. Winning the Betfair was impressive, but in any normal case surely he would have been given a bit of time off afterwards. The festival was round the corner though, which would have taken a lot out of him, and come Aintree I think he was running on empty. I think coming in fresh this season we could see a completely different horse.
I’ve backed both
Cinders And Ashes
and
Grandouet
at 12s.
Cinders And Ashes won a solid renewal of the Supreme with a bit up his sleeve and is improving with every run. Many expect him to be found out against the big boys this year, but the same was said about Peddlers Cross after he won the Baring Bingham.
Peddlers Cross started his second season over timber on a mark of 151, but improved to 170 after finishing a creditable second to Hurricane Fly. Cinders And Ashes will also start off on a mark of 151.
I was never a firm believer in Grandouet, but he proved me wrong with a stunning performance in the International. He was a leading contender for this race last season before connections ran out of time after minor surgery on his near-hind.
There’s no reason why the 5YO should not return to his best, and you will be hard pressed to find a horse with a better cruising speed over timber.
Both are in the right hands and will be targeted at this race.
I was a bit doubter of Grandouet last season for a similar reason that I doubted Sprinter Sacre(big mistake!). In his Triumph run he seemed to empty up the hill, as SS did in the Supreme. However, if one can strengthen to such a massive extent, I don’t see why the other can’t, although clearly not to the same level.
Without a race being run it’s a wide open race, which is nice as we’re not transfixing our views on whether one horse is a genuine superstar or merely over-hyped.
This division should return an interesting season.
I never doubted his stamina, you don’t finish third if you really can’t get up that hill, the issue in the Triumph I think was that Barry made far too much use of him. He has to have cover and be delivered late.
Agree though, the two mile hurdling division is going to be fascinating.
I don’t know about that. People said Binocular couldn’t get the hill and he placed 2 years in a row before winning the Champion Hurdle. He did empty a little in the Triumph and I mentioned before I completely drew a line threw him with regards to a being a real contender last year before his withdrawal.
I will definitely be interested to see how he comes back this year though, as he does seem to ooze class as he travels. Wide open league and tough one to call without seeing them out yet……
Not really one for betting Triumph horses for The Champion Hurdle, but have made an exception with Hisaabaat, and been chucking a few quid at him the last few months. I’ll be interested to see how he gets on at The Curragh today.
My main fancy is Rock on Ruby, and I don’t think he’s quite got the credit for his win. Didn’t get as big a price as I got last year, but not deserting him.
Bet Darlan just after this years Festival, and been throwing a few quid at Cotton Mill, and Trifolium as well. Cotton Mills entered up over the weekend, really hoping he shows.
Do you guys think zarkander is suited by the fast pace of a 2 mile champion hurdle?
I think that a fast-paced 2 miles would be right up his street. The argument is always there that he may get further over time, however that extra stamina that’s ingrained in him could be just what a relatively young, lightly raced type would find essential in getting that extra bit needed up the hill after a quick 2 miles.
He definitely has the pace to be competitive, winning one of the best Triumphs in recent memory, and then the Betfair off top-weight. If anything, I think it could be a small field, slowly run 2 miles that would find him out.
Will be interesting to see how he looks when he makes his reappearance.
I like Zarkandar, too, and he wasn’t quite ready for last year’s CH. I do prefer others, though – Simonsig, Grumeti and Grandeout – so he may be placed at best. Also, he received 11lbs off Brampour in the Betfair last season, and carried 11st 1lb. Still a good performance, considering he had the start of a cold according to Nicholls.
Also, he received 11lbs off Brampour in the Betfair last season, and carried 11st 1lb.
That he did, my mistake.
You gonna stop spamming you twat?
No ones interested in your crappy products and btw Spirit Son sadly is unlikely ever to race again and Simonsig is NOT going for the champion hurdle….Do try to keep up
Now that Tom Segal has shown his support for Get me out of here, I feel compelled to have a few small bets on Betfair while the price stays over 50/1. Get me out of here has a similar profile to Rooster Booster and seems to be still improving…..another 10lb and he will have every chance.
I too am a massive Zarkandar fan and follower, have been backing him since last years CH! His preparation was rushed and he was returning from a cold, there is soo much to come and Mr Nicholls knows a good horse when he sees one
I feel sure his whole campaign will be aimed at one raceDon’t get too sure about that. Paul Nicholls has confirmed in his stable tours and interviews that Zarkandar will not go down the Champion Hurdle route this season.
Don’t get too sure about that. Paul Nicholls has confirmed in his stable tours and interviews that Zarkandar will not go down the Champion Hurdle route this season.
Where have you heard this as I’ve heard the opposite
Haven’t read his stable tour from the Racing Post(not sure if it’s been out yet), but having seen his preview videos on youtube, Nicholls seems pretty sure that the Champion Hurdle is his aim.
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