Paul Nicholls Betfair Column : http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/paul-nicholls/ante-post-plans/paul-nicholls-zarkandars-options-open-for-his-return-301211.html

But the horse that everyone is starting to ask me about is Triumph Hurdle winner Zarkandar, who trades as the joint third favourite for the Champion (at 9.8 on Betfair).

Well, we have no definite plan with Zarkandar at the moment but several options, with maybe the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, the Kingwell at Wincanton, or Haydock possible first ports of call before Cheltenham.

I can tell you that he is in good order though, and coming along very nicely, and he had his first school of the season on grass on Thursday morning in company with Dildar.

He is over the problem that set him back for three weeks earlier in the season - he banged himself and was cast in his box - and in fact that was probably a blessing in disguise, as we have been able to take our time with him.

He has come on really on well physically too, as he is a much bigger, stronger horse. And of course he also had a breathing operation in the summer.

He always made a noise when working and schooling and, if he had gone to Kempton first time up and finished down the field, I would have probably have had it done there and then and put him away for the season.

So, hopefully we have a stronger and cleaner-winded horse to go to war with this season.

Not that the form of the Triumph is working out too badly.

The runner-up Unaccompanied won the Istrabraq at Leopardstown on Thursday, the third Grandouet won the International last time, and a certain Brampour (9th) hasn't done too badly either.

So we are really looking forward to seeing him back on the track. It will hopefully be well worth the wait.

Yeh,thanks WC,thats good to read,was getting a tad concerned.

I think Alderbrook had his 3rd in the Champion! And in his first run 3 yrs earlier he finished 8th or 9 I think! But I totally agree Sintonian, very few would be so inexperienced from memory, and very few are as good as Alderbrook!

Sublimity only had 5 runs over hurdles, and form read 14441 before his Festival win.

Yes and he had four runs as a novice over hurdles the previous season R C. I agree though it was a weak renewal in 2007. A golden era for Irish hurdlers was reaching an end.

I'm on Zarkander purely because he could be anything; with softish ground (we're due a heavy rain festival one year soon surely) I'd want to be on something more battle hardened

Zarkandar I think has been overrated for the champion hurdle based upon a decent triumph last yr. A triumph where brampour, grandouet and unaccompanied have improved since. Which  4yos are entitled to do at different rates. Some would argue that grandouet was a better horse last year and suffered for hitting the front too soon in the triupmh.

Even so grandouet has demonstrated his improvement since something zarakandar has yet to do. So in my mind grandouet has to ahead in the pecking order.

Hurricane Fly is obviously the champion and is the one they've all got to beat all being well with the horse which it looks like he is now.

If the Triumph is looking a good race, then the Supreme is looking every much as good, if not better. In my opinion we have seen a top supreme the top 4 from that race will be top horses in the future. spirit son is the only hurdler left among those left and the Henderson are that he is top rank amongst which puts him ahead on grandouet and zarkandar in the pecking order.

In summary Zarkandar has at the 3 horses to beat to even get a place in the champion something i don't think he's capable of doing.

I can agree that grandouets form with zarkandar can be taken either way, some would say grandouet was gonna reverse the form at aintree and crucially grandouet has shown improvement whereas zarkandar Is yet to do so.

Spirit Son is been well talked up, but did also put up the best novice performance of last season, but I take it on board that performance was at aintree over furher. I'd this horse can confirm his well being then in my eyes has a big chance of challenging hurricane fly. In my eyes spirit son should be 2nd fav. I watched the aintree win again last night. To beat cue card and rock on ruby the way he did was so impressive.

zarkandar was a long way from his best at aintree for me, grandouet may well have beaten him

RDS - nicky is raving about spirit son and i think thats why hes second fav, rather than on the basis that he has the second best form

Not sure I agree with that RDS - the win at Aintree (and Exeter) was breathtaking and different class to any novice performance I witnessed last yr. That is the main reason he is being backed IMO.

I agree with that horse9, but he was wining over 2m4 at Aintree, suggesting stamina is not an issue. Trainer and jockey also both on record as saying the Supreme came 6 months early for the horse physically, rather than him being a flat track type.

Yeah I remember a preview evening when the breeder said Spirit Son would be a great 6yo but was immature as a 5yo, but he didn't quicken away from his International field for me, he won it well but not in the shape of a Champion Hurdler waiting to happe, unless of course there's more improvement between Winter and March ?

I'm with Unaccompanied, she's the only one with no question marks for me, but if the Fly turns up then I think they're all playing for second place to be honest...

Horse9 - agree Hurricane is the one to beat if everything turns up, and RDS I agree, next few weeks will be informative. I certainly agree the summer off and wind op and natural improvement make him a very interesting horse this yr

any horse ruby chooses at cheltenham is well backed, but even so i would even care about prices and drifters / springers

is zarkandar fit and well,im slightly worried

I see Zarkandar has been entered for the Betfair Hdle, formerly the tote gold trophy i think.

It's not age that stops 5yos winning Champion Hurdles, it is lack of racecourse experience.  Horses need to be battle hardened to win this race.  Katchit won at 5 but had had 28 runs beforehand.  Cannot think of a winner since Royal Gait that took the race when lightly raced and he had passed the post first in an Ascot Gold Cup!  More than 15 runs under rules (including flat) is a must.

Yep, plenty of evidence why 5yo should not be backed. There have been previous Champion Hurdles winners that have been beaten in the race at 5, Punjabi & Bino.

Unaccompanined is a little different I feel though because she is built like a steeplechaser.

CCM, you backed anything for the race yet ?

Only OW mate! Backed him at the end of last season and before he ran this. Glad they have chosen the race, but dont give him any chance tbh.... he has really disappointed me this season.

I'm tempted by a decent bet on HF at 7/4 NRNB as could see him going off evs or shorter in an average renewal, if he comes back and wins the Irish CH.

How about you mate?

I quite like Unaccompanied myself. Although she cost me a fortune last year