PNicholls

At the start of the season, Zarkandar was obviously my leading contender for the Champion Hurdle.

But we have been lucky enough to have Rock On Ruby and, to a lesser extent, Brampour confirm themselves as contenders for the race during the season. So it is very heartening that we have three possibles for the Champion Hurdle, the race that has so far eluded me that I most want to win.

Who knows, Rock On Ruby may have been far shorter in the betting (he is currently 14.0 on Betfair) had he jumped the final flight cleanly in the Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day. But in any event you have to be thrilled with his neck second to Binocular there, with a further 8 lengths back to such a good yardstick in Overturn. He has come a long way in his two runs this season, and we know Cheltenham suits him well. The current plan is to go straight to the Festival with him.

And don't be too hasty to write off Brampour, though I see the Betfair market has, as he is trading at 95 for the race! We took a chance of running him at Ascot a week after his excellent third in the International (where Harry couldn't claim his 7lb), and it didn't come off. But we will bring him back a fresh horse and see where we are; the likelihood is that he will run before the Festival and that will tell us where to go.

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.

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