racing_news/

Zarkander Strong in Betfair Hurdle
17/02/12

1 Zarkandar 11/4F
2 Get Me Out Of Here 14/1
3 Raya Star 12/1
4 Sire De Grugy 14/1
20 ran Distances: 1¼l, shd, 1¾l
TIME 3m 52.00s (slow by 4.00s)

Zarkandar further enhanced his Champion Hurdle prospects with a brilliant victory in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Zarkandar
© Racehorse Photos

One of the first under pressure, Paul Nicholls' Triumph Hurdle winner was a good five lengths down at the second-last, where Darlan and Tony McCoy took a crashing fall. Sailors Warn and Sire De Grugy appeared to have it between them, but the likes of Raya Star, Get Me Out Of Here and Olofi were closing fast.

Zarkandar (11-4 favourite), having his first run of the season, began to stay on very powerfully and Ruby Walsh guided him through a small gap to win by a length and a quarter. Get Me Out Of Here, who was badly hampered by the fall of stablemate Darlan, finished second, with Raya Star and Sire De Grugy taking minor honours.

Nicholls said: "There is huge improvement in him between now and Cheltenham. I had him right today, but I was training him with Cheltenham in mind. I was worried about his lack of experience, but he's progressive and keeps winning. He needs to improve, but he worked great two days ago and he always gallops to the line."

With Walsh set to partner last season's Champion Hurdle winner Hurricane Fly at Cheltenham next month, Daryl Jacob is likely to be back on board Zarkandar. "Daryl will ride if Ruby rides Hurricane Fly and Daryl will be waving goodbye to him on the run-in!" joked Nicholls.

Walsh said of Zarkandar: "I kind of knew there was going to be no pace on but, in fairness to a horse with only three runs, I didn't see any of the first four hurdles, so there was no way he did either. He jumped impeccably and stayed on really well in the straight.

"He's the first horse in 40 years to win this race without a prep run, and that says enough in itself. He showed what you need to win a Champion Hurdle - stamina. He outstayed them and pulled up when he got to the front. He's going to improve a ton for the experience of the race, but time will tell."

After having treatment from on-course medical staff, McCoy later walked away from the incident at the second-last.

Position	Horse Trainer	Jockey Weight	Starting Price Beaten Distance
1	Zarkandar P F Nicholls	R Walsh 11st 1lbs	11 - 4 Winner
2	Get Me Out Of Here Jonjo O'Neill	Maurice Linehan 11st 1lbs	14 - 1 1 1/4 length
3	Raya Star A King	R Thornton 10st 3lbs	12 - 1 Short Head
4	Sire De Grugy G L Moore	J E Moore 10st 7lbs	14 - 1 1 3/4 length
5	Olofi T R George	P J Brennan 10st 0lbs	8 - 1 1 3/4 length
6	Sailors Warn E J O'Grady	A E Lynch 10st 7lbs	33 - 1 Nose
7	Brampour P F Nicholls	Harry Derham 11st 12lbs	33 - 1 4 1/2 lengths
8	Rigidity Tim Vaughan	Robert Kirk 10st 0lbs	66 - 1 2 1/2 lengths
9	Abergavenny B Ellison	Felix de Giles 10st 0lbs	14 - 1 3/4 length
10	Third Intention C L Tizzard	J Tizzard 10st 6lbs	10 - 1 1 1/2 length
11	Via Galilei G L Moore	Joshua Moore 10st 8lbs	33 - 1 Short Head
12	Desert Cry D McCain Jnr	J M Maguire 10st 7lbs	33 - 1 Head
13	Ciceron Miss V Williams	Aidan Coleman 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 1 1/2 length
14	Alarazi Mrs L Wadham	R Johnson 10st 3lbs	33 - 1 6 lengths
15	Empire Levant P F Nicholls	D A Jacob 10st 4lbs	12 - 1 3 3/4 lengths
16	Ericht N J Henderson	A Tinkler 10st 0lbs	25 - 1 5 lengths
17	Double Ross N A Twiston-Davies	William Twiston-Davies 10st 0lbs	100 - 1 6 lengths
18	Final Approach W P Mullins	P Townend 11st 0lbs	14 - 1 2 1/4 lengths
PulledUp	Soldatino N J Henderson	B J Geraghty 10st 12lbs	14 - 1
Fell	Darlan N J Henderson	A P McCoy 10st 10lbs	12 - 1