Blast from the Past: 2011 Elite Hurdle

Zarkandar made his first start seven seasons ago when winning the 2011 Adonis Hurdle and has raced 29 more times since. With an entry for a Grade 3 handicap hurdle at the end of the month, it looks as though he will add to his total number of career starts this term, but despite all those starts (which have included a victory in the Aintree Hurdle and three in-the-frame efforts in Cheltenham Festival Grade 1s), Zarkandar has never bettered his win in the 2012 Elite Hurdle in terms of Timeform ratings.

Zarkandar had wins in the Triumph Hurdle, Anniversary Hurdle, and Betfair Hurdle to his name when he lined up for the 2011 Elite and as a result was giving weight away to the whole field at Wincanton, including 17 lb to his stable companion Prospect Wells, who had finished a good fifth in the Supreme (behind Cinders And Ashes) in the previous season. Ruby Walsh was on board Prospect Wells and the market was expecting that weight to prove decisive, with the former sent off as the 2/1 market leader.

The two Nicholls runners both raced on the front-end, something that was certainly an advantage given the tactical way the seven-runner race unfolded, but the pair served up an excellent finish between them, pulling seven lengths clear of the third Balder Succes in the end. Zarkandar prevailed by a neck, not only giving the weight away but also proving himself under conditions that were not expected to play to his strengths (his best efforts prior to this had come in well run races on stiffer tracks).

After the Elite, Zarkandar continued his excellent season, winning the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December (beating the previous season’s Champion Hurdle winner Rock On Ruby) and the Kingwell back at Wincanton before having his own crack at the Champion Hurdle in March. He came up short (sent off at 7/2) in that race behind Hurricane Fly, but bounced back with a first Grade 1 win since his juvenile season when taking the Aintree Hurdle next time out.