International Hurdle: Zarkandar to deal the knockout blow

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is a sport which pitches together exponents of a variety of disciplines, including Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Muay Thai and Taekwondo, in a really rather fascinating bout. Who wants to watch two boxers slug it out when you can see a brace of very different styles clash, often with spectacular results, in an event which is becoming ever more popular with the sporting public? 

If you can impose a criticism upon National Hunt racing, aside from the Cheltenham Festival, it would be that many of the seasons top races almost become non-events on account of their being one dominant force. Take the Tingle Creek last weekend, for example. It was billed as a clash between Sprinter Sacre and Sanctuaire but, in truth, there was only ever going to be one result and it is most likely that the first mentioned will reign over the two mile chase division for a while yet. The same is true of hurdles races over three miles, with Big Buck's having them quite simply at his mercy. That sort of scenario is unavoidable, as connections of the likely rivals want to be competing for the win rather than for second place, and it is a delight to see horses at the top of their game doing what they do best, but there is very little drama in a formality. 

The International Hurdle is anything but a formality, with regards to both one set of connections anticipating a win and us attempting to find the most likely victor. A total of nine have been entered but, without wishing to be rude to the owners and trainers of six of them, this race really does revolve around Rock On Ruby, Zarkandar and Grandouet in a clash would be an absolute classic in the realms of MMA, with each contender bringing something very different to the table.  

First let's deal with reigning champion hurdler Rock On Ruby, who took his form to a whole new level last season. He kicked off in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, where he beat the likes of Empire Levant and Raya Star with ease, before finding only Binocular too good in the Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. He went from there straight to Cheltenham where, with the clamour and hype surrounding Hurricane Fly, he was somewhat overlooked in the market, being sent off at a Betfair SP of 13.04301/25, which was fair enough as at the time Hurricane Fly, Binocular and Zarkandar all seemed to hold slightly stronger claims. 

Rock On Ruby belied those odds in what was an above-average renewal of the race, showing himself to be a top-class hurdler as he drew away to beat Overturn by three and a quarter lengths. The suspicion was that he hadn't fully recovered from those exertions as he was soundly beaten in the Aintree Hurdle, weakening after the final flight in the style of one that had done enough for the season. He strikes as being the class act, the all-round performer, of the trio likely to take part on Saturday and his chance is there for all to see, with a missed reappearance in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle of no concern given his record when fresh. 

There is no evidence to suggest that Grandouet goes well fresh, for all that he would probably have won on his reappearance at Wincanton last season but for crashing out at the second last, but he will need to as he comes into this on the back of a 12 month lay-off having undergone an operation on an infected fetlock joint in February. Although from a stoutly-bred family on his dam's side he travels incredibly strongly in his races at two miles, boasting plenty of speed, and it is that which sets him apart from his two main rivals. 

The five-year-old has progressed well since finishing third in the 2011 Triumph Hurdle, won by Zarkandar, and he took a marked step forward when last seen in this race, impressively beating Overturn by four lengths, and was subsequently considered the chief threat to Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle. The aforementioned injury prevented him making the race and he is entitled to be rusty after such an absence, but it is difficult to discount him nonetheless. 

Zarkandar is the final one up for discussion, and again he races in a different fashion to his rivals. A tendency to get outpaced is almost masked by the way in which he responds to pressure, a trait seen to great effect in last seasons' Betfair Hurdle as he wriggled through from midfield to lead after the last. However the opposite took effect at Cheltenham, finding himself tapped for foot down the hill but emerging with credit on the whole for managing to finish as close as he did. 

Unlike both Rock On Ruby and Grandouet, Zarkandar comes into this fighting fit having made a successful return in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton, and the impression he created there was particularly positive as he did really rather well to overcome a steady pace, despite being well positioned. Were connections to persevere with the positive tactics he may just be able to make an impact at the very top of the two mile tree, and this looks a good race on which to judge him.

It really is difficult to split the trio, with the lack of a preparation outing not certain to count against either Rock On Ruby or Grandouet. However what does count against them is the fact that they both have to concede weight to Zarkandar, on account of Rock on Ruby's Champion Hurdle win and Grandouet's success in this last year, and that could prove to be the telling blow. The ideal scenario would see Zarkandar race prominently, hopefully negating his slight disadvantage in terms of outright speed, and this tactic could well be the making of him. 

Recommendation
Back Zarkandar @ 2.47/5 in the International Hurdle

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