Zaynar tops Ascot Hurdle entries
It looks as though the calls for the 2009 Truimph Hurdle winner Zaynar to be tried at longer distances have been answered.
The illustrious grey has had the look of an out-and-out stayer since he began his career over the sticks and now a tilt to wrestle the crown from staying champion Big Bucks is very much on the agenda.
The Nicky Henderson-trained five-year-old is looking to retain his Ascot Hurdle crown this weekend but owner and bookmaker Victor Chandler has revealed plans to mount a challenge for the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival later on next year.
"Zaynar's main aim this season will be the World Hurdle where we believe the step up to three miles will suit him very well,” Chandler told the Guardian.
“Big Buck's [the winner of the last two runnings’ of the stayers' championship] is going to be a tough nut to crack but the hope is that Zaynar will make steady progress and give him all he can handle at Cheltenham."
Zaynar ran a creditable third in the Champion Hurdle last season, and Chandler reckons his horse has strengthened up even more over the winter and should have improved.
“Zaynar is bigger and stronger this season, and we are also hoping that he is a fair bit better too.
"Plans are fluid but we would perhaps follow a similar route to last season with the Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham in December again on his agenda, before we look for another prep race ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.”
Zaynar’s main competition this weekend will probably come in form of the Alan King trained duo Katchit and Karabak. Seven-year-old Karabak finished six lengths behind Henderson's grey in 2009 but meets him on 6lb better terms this weekend and is expected to go well on his seasonal reappearance. Katchit, who has failed to win a race since his 2008 Champion Hurdle success, is having his second run of the season following his second to Australia Day at Kempton in October.
Other notable entries for the race include the Paul Nicholls-trained Silviniaco Conti, who looks a huge prospect for the future, and Zaynar’s stable mate Sentry Duty, who has an imperious record over the hurdles at Ascot.
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