Paul Nicholls: Zarkandar to run in blinkers on Thursday

Zarkandar in action

Following a workout in blinkers this morning, Zarkandar keeps them on in the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday...

I have declared Zarkandar in blinkers for the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday.

As I mentioned in assessing his chance in the Champion Hurdle in these columns last month, we discussed that option at the start of the season.

But after his three wins this season we saw no need to revisit the idea for the Festival.

However, his run in the Champion reignited the idea.

So we worked him in blinkers this morning and he was much sharper than normal. And it is worth remembering that he wore blinkers in his three starts on the Flat in France.

They really woke him up. So let's hope it has the same effect on the course as they had on the likes of Michel Le Bon at Newbury earlier in the season and Cedre Bleu on Saturday (and Landscape may well have won in first time blinkers too had he not come down at the last).

But its obviously a very hot race, so let's see how he gets on.