Cheltenham Festival
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Zarkandar in last year's Champion Hurdle
Zarkandar in last year's Champion Hurdle
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Replies: 138
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In fairness though sj, HF had no obvious excuses and is the 6-4 favourite this year, whereas Zarkandar is three times the price and was sick last year in the build-up...
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No HF is a real threat and especially on softish ground. I agree that not at his best last year.
But he is 9 and probably finished improving as such whilst Zark as judo says is at an age that he still stepping forward. |
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Graeme you are from Glasgow yes? Enough said
 And you take precedent? |
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it's a very hard race to call, I've taken Zark ew and then gone in again with the PP offer 'money back if HF wins'
happy to get my money back tbh, would like to see something special like a thrilling race or a jaw dropping bombshell of a performance |
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We're all agreed then a massive reverse forecast and were all minted. Happy days.......Roll on Tuesday.
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Not sure we'll get a jaw dropping performance but if either HF or ROR wins it'll mark them as up there with the best of recent hurdlers.
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jaw dropping for me would be a massive speed figure like a 180 on my scale with the Supreme on the same day about 155... would make me go
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last years was 173 on my scale
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judorick 04 Mar 13 20:27 Joined: 27 Nov 11 | Topic/replies: 12,640 | Blogger: judorick's blog
do you not think the now healthy 6yo has more scope to improve than the 9yo? forgiving a 5yo a run in a champion hurdle is much easier than a defending champ Not when he finished that far in front of him, and reports are that HF wasnt at his best either last year. Zarkandar has got a lot to make up on the Fly |
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I would love to see Bino charge up the hill to win by 5! Bino
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Plenty horses have been beaten in the Champion Hurdle before going on to win it the year after.
Punjabi for example, ran a remarkably similar race to Zarkandar last year when beaten 6 lengths in 2008, only to go on to win it the following year. |
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Replies: 48
tomdeane 04 Mar 13 20:28 Joined: 29 Jul 04 | Topic/replies: 1,104 | Blogger: tomdeane's blog In fairness though sj, HF had no obvious excuses and is the 6-4 favourite this year, whereas Zarkandar is three times the price and was sick last year in the build-up... So we're happy to take it from Nicholls that Zarkandar was sick but not happy that Willie said HF could barley work last year? I liek Zarkandar but the idea that it s ok to put a line through Zarkandar's run but not HF's is a strange one. Bit like those who claim last year's Champion was better than HF's win because of how close Peddlers was. Forgetting of course how far back Overturn was that year when runner up last year |
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"I would love to see Bino charge up the hill to win by 5!"
That's what I'm hoping for. Come on Bino! |
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fascinating race in store hope the fly wins but dismiss zarkandar at your peril
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haha sue, loyal as ever
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sj:
Why would we take Willie's word when his word after HF won the Irish Champion was that he'd never been better? Very suspicious that we only heard things weren't right after the race. Nicholls told everyone about Zarkandar before he ran at all last season and has said this term that he's a different horse. |
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^ Also, my point is that HF is 6-4 so you'd want to be 100% certain that he is a different horse this year just to make him favourite, let alone that short!
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I don't get the sick thing at all, his run in the newbury hurdle race last year was better than the kingwell run.
"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." 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'll definitely go forward from here. "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. That's after the betfair run last year. "Zarkandar won at Newbury and is in really good form. He's four from four and you wouldn't know how much improvement he might make," said Nicholls. And on the lead up to the CH. |
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I don't think you have to 'forgive' Zarkandar his run in the race last year in order to back him this time.
He only finished a length behind Hurricane Fly, is entitled to improve from 5 to 6, and is double the price. He would be on anyone's shortlist. |
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^
That was obviously before last years race |
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still very tricky to work out what is gonna happen in the race itself, tactics, pace profile, pace variation, jockeyship, luck in running (they could all bunch up on the stands rail, some get a run some don't like the greatwood)...
large spread on the variables unlike say the Arkle where everyone knows how the race will be run very tough |
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why don't you look up the comments where Nicholls said he looked a shell of a horse in the paddock, was coughing after the race and had to go on anti biotics for the infection? Surely those are more important than comments taken straight after the horse just landed an ante post gamble at Newbury
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duffy 04 Mar 13 21:04 Joined: 28 Mar 03 | Topic/replies: 8,373 | Blogger: duffy's blog
I don't get the sick thing at all, his run in the newbury hurdle race last year was better than the kingwell run. "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." 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'll definitely go forward from here. "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. That's after the betfair run last year. "Zarkandar won at Newbury and is in really good form. He's four from four and you wouldn't know how much improvement he might make," said Nicholls. And on the lead up to the CH. Exactly my point. There was no mention in the build up at all. Like I say I like Zarkandar but to forgive one horse for one run and not the other is certainly to suit one's argument. That is not digging anyone out cos it seems to be the opinion of the majority |
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that was all said at newbury
as I said, find the post champion hurdle quotes, totally different |
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Yes I agree, the sick theme wasn't a constant in all the bulletins we had about the horse, they obviously had times when they weren't too concerned about it, after all and especially with a young horse, as has been pointed out,it would be a highly risky and cavalier approach to run a horse that was ailing in such a demanding race.
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"haha sue, loyal as ever"
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they found out he was coughing after the race and Nicholls said he 'came up light' in the paddock
last years champion is irrelevant as far as Zarkandar is concerned, he is not the same horse now as then at all just saying if the only reason you think he can't win is because of that race you might want to have another think just in case that's not true |
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Nichols has always said that Zarkandar was a CH horse but wasn't for me last year. The news of the coughing in his yard came after the Betfair and tbh with the subsequent form that had been shown by Grandouet and Brampour he really should have won the race off 151.
All the paddock reports say that Zarkandar didn't look good prior to the CH - I'm prepared to accept them. |
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Grandouet fan at the start of the season but i've fell in love with Zarkandar
Finds loads for pressure, as tough as teak, and contrary to what many believe I think he has bags and bags of speed. I don't think there's anything to dislike about him. |
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Not saying that mate I've said I liked the horse and would have to be on the shortlist. If he was sick since Newbury bit silly to run him not just in the Champion but then again at Aintree dont you think? If he was indeed that sick
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the only negative i have about zark is the fact ruby is happy to jump off if he feels he has a better chance elsewhere i.e prospect wells/sam winner
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I'm only reporting what I heard and read, I can't read the trainers mind and i accept what he said like I accept what he says this year
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Absolutely, however, I don't think he can win because in pretty much all of his races he shows a tendency to have to make more of an effort to travel alongside others at the pace required, ROR ran all over him in the bula until falling in a hole and grandouet travelled better too before fitness told, even in the kingwell against markedly lesser lights he was unconvincing with the way he moves, with this frailty, a CH and the way the horses will quicken in that is a nemesis for a horse like this, only an opinion though.
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Running him at aintree was a poor decision and probably something to do with the trainer's championship
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Thats exactly my point. We'll accept what Nicholls saying regarding Zarkandar but not Mullins regarding HF last year, thats all
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Wouldn't take Zarkandar's appeared lack of travelling through the race as a negative
Katchit and Hardy Eustace for example weren't the smoothest of travellers |
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you don't think there's any chance that this tendency you report is weighing too heavily in your judgement? what if that is not the case? I was never in any doubt that he would win any of his races and see no fraility at all, in fact I thought he barely got out of second gear at Wincanton, he jumps superbly at speed and the faster they go the better for him even if he has to be niggled... will pull more out and jump quicker than any others
I'm worried about an overly steady or stop start race more than anything |
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No sj I'm happy to say both weren't at their best last year but Zark was only a length down.
Given normal progression as a 6yo he makes that up and a bit |
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several have been beaten in the race as a 5yo and won it as a 6yo, in recent years too
only one has ever failed to defend and then regained the title |
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I'm worried about an overly steady or stop start race more than anything
agreed! and that kind of race will not suit ROR either |