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/ Timeform / 17 February 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Zarkandar (centre) won the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury
"Running from a BHA mark of 151, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner looked potentially thrown-in..."
Champion Hurdle hopeful Zarkandar landed Newbury's Betfair Hurdle on Friday, whilst Long Run got back to winning ways and Sprinter Sacre enhanced his already lofty reputation...
Turning into the Newbury straight, Zarkandar did not look the most likely winner, with jockey Ruby Walsh asking the five-year-old to try and pick the leaders up. Emerging between rivals at the final flight, Zarkandar's stamina really came into evidence, and he gradually asserted his authority on the field.
Running from a BHA mark of 151, last season's Triumph Hurdle winner looked potentially thrown-in, but the dawdling early pace was unlikely to play to his strengths. Darlan, under Tony McCoy, was arguably travelling best turning for home but took a crashing fall at the third-last, hampering eventual runner-up Get Me Out of Here, with Raya Star and Sire de Grugy filling the remaining places.
Zarkandar is sure to improve for this seasonal return and can presently be backed at [7.4] for the Champion Hurdle.
The Nicky Hednerson-trained Long Run, winner of the King George and Gold Cup last season, gained his first win of the term in the Betfair Denman Chase as he beat stable mate Burton Port, returning from over a year on the sidelines, and What A Friend into second and third respectively.
Long Run had come up against a resurgent Kauto Star on his two previous starts this season, in the Betfair Chase and the King George, but with that opponent not in the line-up he managed to get back to winning ways.
Long Run heads the Gold Cup market at [3.55], whilst Burton Port, who put up an excellent performance on his return, is available at [13.0] and What A Friend at [50.0].
Sprinter Sacre, also trained by Nicky Henderson, gained his third win from as many starts over fences when easily landing the Betfair Super Saturday Chase. He had been extremely impressive in his previous starts but, up against his elders, including French Opera and Hold Fast, this was expected to be a more thorough test.
However, Barry Geraghty was motionless throughout onboard Sprinter Sacre, the six-year-old simply strengthening his position at the head of the Arkle market at [2.36].
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