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One of my favourite horses. But he has been second three times this season. Has he lost his fighting spirit or is he simply being found out by horses with more speed?
Where would you from here as a trainer?
He does not seem to have the speed for 2 mile hurdling any more, Time to send him 3 miles or try him over the larger obstacles?
He’s seven. Put him over fences. He could probably win this year’s Jewson with just one ‘chase under his belt.
Evening all, i understand he’ll most likely be targeted at the National Spirit at Fontwell. I think we’ll unlikely see him in G1 company again unless they go for the World hurdle.
Always been lazy and there’s a fine line between lazy and temperamental. Previously Zarkandar’s been pushed along fairly early before creditably finding plenty under pressure. This season that determination seems absent and I doubt it’ll return. More seasons hurdling than normal suggests hasn’t taken to the larger obstacles at home, so whether can rekindle enthusiasm under another code is questionable imo.
Value Is EverythingUp until November his only two defeats in completed races in this country came in Champion Hurdles, in both of which he ran well enough.
For me he’s simply not quite good enough to cope with the likes of The New One or Annie Power and was also unsuited by the small fields and tactical shape of his last three races. I don’t think it’s an age thing (he’s only a year older than those two), or that he’s necessarily deteriorating but simply that he isn’t quite that good.
He’s never appealed to me as a chasing type and campaigning him over hurdles over a trip is definitely the right move IMO.
Apparently at the start of the season Paul Nicholls said the owners wanted to try him over three miles this season. What are they waiting for? Won’t beat TNO over 2m and won’t beat Annie Power over 2.5m, so may as well see how he copes with 3m….may even bring about some improvement, and if it does, he’d be a player for the world hurdle I’m sure.
I find the campaigning of Zarkandar this season baffling.
Looks set to run yet again over 2 miles in the Kingwell on Saturday, ok the prize money is ok but its no penalty kick as Melodic Rendezvous is no mug. Surely if your running a horse in the World Hurdle you’d try it over 3 miles prior to that run?
He must be running Big Bucks and co into the ground on the gallops at Dicheat!?!
Nicholls always has his favourites. He was visually gutted when Denman stuffed KS in the GC, and then sacrificed Neptune Collonges winning chances to ensure KS regained it.
Regarding the latter I was personally amazed a (rightly!) furious John Hales carries on sending his best to PN.
I doubt he will stay three miles, surprised they’ve not saving him for Aintree and Punchestown over 2 1/2.
I think Neptune Collonges suffered an injury during that race but, before that became obvious Mr Hales was pretty annoyed. He very much though that NC had the beating of Kauto Star that year.
He reminds me of Celestial Halo in many ways.
Both Triumph winners, they ground out some wins in the next season but didn’t quite have the pace to win a Champion Hurdle. Ridden more positively the year after, they still fell short on the big occasion in spite of headgear.
A little experimentation followed with Celestial Halo’s atrocious chasing career and ‘the Z’ falling short at a variety of distances.
If Celestial Halo is anything to go by, the Z would be best served scooping up the trials and conditions races like the Kingwell, Elite Hurdle and Contenders Hurdle between tilts at the big guns. If Paul Nicholls can keep him sweet, maybe he can contend for the World Hurdle in a season or two. Regularly bossing inferiors in small fields will be much better for his longevity, though.
Nicholls always has his favourites. He was visually gutted when Denman stuffed KS in the GC, and then sacrificed Neptune Collonges winning chances to ensure KS regained it.
Regarding the latter I was personally amazed a (rightly!) furious John Hales carries on sending his best to PN.
How did he sacrifice Neptune’s chance?
Was it because he gave Williams the leg up?…….
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Maybe Im not giving enough credit to other horses involved but I just wonder if all those battles have started to get the better of him. I was disspointed with how easily he was passed yesterday, in the same way I was when The New One passed him. I just wonder whether chasing the likes of of Annie Power around in the muck has done him any good mentally speaking. He seemed to have a lot more fight in him last year.
SHL
Didn’t think Zark did anything wrong this time, though Jacob did. When ground is very heavy at Wincers you want to be on the stand side rail/hedge. Cardinal sin letting your opponent up the inner. Melodic Rendezvous is a good horse though.
Value Is EverythingI don’t think Daryl Jacob did a lot wrong. If anything, he caught Nick Schofield by surprise and stole a march on him, and he and Zarkander only got touched off by a good horse who relished the ground conditions. Melodic Rendezvous’ is gutsy animal and showed an insatiable will to win. He looked beat at one point, and where other horses ( and jockeys ) would have thrown in the towel, he battled on.
The ground was absolutely horrendous at Wincanton, and the race time indicated that.
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