Dont you think it would be exactly what he needs though roobuck? Learn a bit of rough and tumble before the CH? As thieves alluded to earlier, being less battle hardened is the big issue for 5 yo's imo. This would give him a bit of experience.

Although I would agree he'd have been better off with a run before the Totesport.

Just to reiterate, the 5yo trend is a false one.  The record of 5yos is down to them largely being too lightly raced to be competitive.  Lightly raced horses OF ALL AGES have a poor record in this race.  Champion hurdlers have to be race hardened both in terms of number of runs and number of wins.  Of the 18 winners since 1992, ALL had won a minimum of 6 times under rules (interestingly none other than Istabraq (twice) had won more than 12 times) and ALL had run at least 15 times with 15 of the 18 having run at least 20 times.  Hardy Eustace was the lightest raced horse with 15 runs 6 wins.  Flakey Dove the heaviest raced with 35 starts.   Zarkandar is a negative with 6 runs 4 wins but then so is Spirit Son (5 runs 4 wins)and indeed most of the horses seen as being in contention!

              runs    wins
Granville Again        18    11
Flakey Dove        35    12
Alderbrook        23    12
Collier Bay        22    6
Make A Stand        27    11
Istabraq        21    11
Istabraq        27    16
Istabraq        34    22
Hors La lo III        22    7
Rooster Booster        27    6
Hardy Eustace        15    6
Hardy Eustace        21    9
Brave Inca        22    11
Sublimity        20    6
Katchit                28    10
Punjabi                28    10
Binocular        17    8
Hurricane Fly        21    11

Think Punjabi and rooster in recent times went close in the Betfair Hurdle before running big races in the Champion (admittedly, not aged 4). Rooster touched off and Punjabi close 2nd both off top weight.

I agree too Budd, though the memory of him tanking to the last flight was a sight to behold! Wonderful horse.

Thanks for that thieves - very interesting.

The way Nicholls was talking in his column i don't think Zarkandar will run in the Betfair Hdl. Celestial halo and Empire Levante more likely to run.He did say the only race that matters for Zark is the Champion Hdl which i thought was encouraging.
   Henderson thinks SS could be one of the best he's trained which is a bit of a worry for us Zarkandar supporters.

You never know with some horses so it's to the racecourse with Zarkandar for a spot of pre-Betfair Hurdle reconnaissance...

I was obviously very pleased to hear that Zarkandar will be left on a mark of 151 for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next month. And I am clearly very keen to run the horse in what is now Europe's richest handicap hurdle since Betfair backed the race.

Zarkandar is only workmanlike at home - Brampour used to murder him over 5f last season - so, while he is pleasing me, he is never going to tell you that much from his work. He does it on the track.

So while it could be argued that he is theoretically well-handicapped with the Triumph Hurdle form working out so well and should take his chance come what may, I have decided to give him a racecourse gallop in the next 10 days to see whether he will be ready in time to do himself justice at Newbury.

That gallop will decide where we go next with the horse.

The Champion Hurdle is the only race that matters for him though, he is in good order and touch wood the summer breathing operation seems to have helped. I know this much - he used to make a noise when schooling but he doesn't any more.

Looks like the Betfair Hurdle is the plan.

He is giving his paymasters at Betfair some v good publicity with all this maybe he will do what is right for the horse after the gallop.

I think the Betfair is the ideal race for him really. Strong pace, nice mark & the track will suit.

i think celestial halo will probably run at haydock now, its a 50 grand race and the terms are very favourable for celestial halo as is the ground

You have to laugh at this imo. 2 weeks ago when Nichills said Zark was not certain to run as running plans were far from finalised etc, yet all the while the horses odds were contracting day by day. Opened at 8/1 with a few firms and now gen 4/1.

If this was not the plan, then why all the cuts in odds? Sure the bookies are cretins and will take a cut anyway, but there must have been some money for it .. PFN does like a flutter himself.

WOW.

Big drift .. 16/1 and nothing waiting to back ..

Aye. Probably JP

Yes another boost for the form. I actually backed Orzare e/w, i was just starting to get excited when he took a chance at the last, ran on well tho.

Maybe the Triumph form has stood up well because it hasn't been tested against either the Champion form or the Supreme form.  Only significant runner from either race to have taken on the 5YOs is 1000 Stars V Unaccompanied and I think it is far from conclusive that the 5YOs are much/any better than that horse let alone those that challenged in the Champ.  Of the first 3 from each race only Oscar Whisky has run over hurdles this year and he seems likely to be running over further so the Fly only has to get there in one piece and beat last year's Triumph field. 

If I were McCain, I would be running Peddlers in Ireland to expose any weakness in the favourite - I can see Whisky heading this way now SS is out of the race if the Fly and to a lesser extent Zark dont sparkle over next couple of weeks

Peddlers won't run again before Cheltenham, after his muscle problem, according to trainer.

i thought he was confirmed for it a few days ago?

That's where it seems he is headed, PFN clearly believes he's a lot better than 151.

However if HF blows out this weekend, would not be at all surprised to see him switch to Kingwell

i think hed go on soft ok, even though good would probably suit him better. it was soft at kempton for the adonis, despite the official going saying otherwise!

If you read the "rules" next to the market it tells you,

Market Suspensions:

    12pm, 24th January - Forfeit Stage
    12pm, 6th February - Confirmation Of Entry Stage