Zarkandar proved too strong for Grandouet
Zarkandar showed plenty of guts to cap a great day for Paul Nicholls with victory in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham...
In receipt of 4lb from the current champion hurdler Rock On Ruby and Grandouet, winner of this race last year, Zarkandar was sent off favourite to give Nicholls a fifth winner on the afternoon.
Ruby Walsh was the first of the big three to come under pressure, but in testing ground and up the famous hill it was Zarkandar who toughed it out, beating Grandouet, who ran a fine race on his first start for 12 months, by two lengths with Rock On Ruby fading late in the day.
Nicholls said: "I don't think he was himself last year, especially after he fell at Aintree and even two weeks before Wincanton (Elite Hurdle) I thought he'd have no chance of running well but he just suddenly picked up and was enjoying his schooling again.
"He's the right age and I think he's still improving. He'll probably go for the Kingwell in February but I haven't made up my mind."
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