Zarkandar Looking Good For Champion Hurdle

Zarkandar did his chances in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival no harm with victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Friday. It was a well-timed run from the 11/4 favourite as he stayed on better than anything else in the run-in to the line ahead of Get Me Out Of Here.

The five-year old became the first horse in over 40 years to win the race in his first run of the season. His last appearance was when winning at Aintree in the Grand National Meeting in April and people looking ahead to 2012 Cheltenham festival will have been waiting for his sesonal debut.

In 2011, Zarkandar tasted success at the Festival in the Triumph Hurdle when getting the better of Unaccompanied in a close finish at Prestbury Park. Bookmakers have shorted the Paul Nicholls-trained runner for further success at the Festival; however, he will have to overcome the odds-on favourite Hurricane Fly who won the race 12 months ago.

Regular jockey Ruby Walsh is the man who holds all the aces when it comes to the feature race on day one of the Festival. He will have to choose between Zarkandar, Rock On Ruby or Hurricane Fly who are all prominent in the market. It does look likely though that Walsh will stick with Hurricane Fly who gave him success in the Irish Champion Hurdle last month and anyone looking for Cheltenham festival tips should remember this.

Walsh’s colleague Tony McCoy was lucky to come away from the Betfair Hurdle on Friday with a few knocks and bruises. He was subject to a heavy fall on board Darlan when seemingly going well, however, the Champion Jockey did pick himself up from the incident to go onto to win the final race of the card on Shutthefrontdoor in a national hunt flat race.