International Hurdle 2012

3.05 Cheltenham

StanJames.com International Hurdle (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £74,035

Advice: 1 pt win Zarkandar (5/4 general), 1 pt Zarkandar to win today and the Champion Hurdle (14/1 general)

Grandouet: Always been talented and began to come of age properly last season with impressive wins in Haydock conditions hurdle and also a dominant display in last year’s renewal, marking him down as major player in the Champion Hurdle scene; Off since then with hind leg problem but trainer in fantastic form with seasonal debutants and big player if coming back in the same form; More of a worry is the heavy ground.

Rock On Ruby: Tough, progressive, and really came good after solid novice hurdling campaign with clear cut Champion Hurdle victory last year when authoritative winner (Zarkandar back in fifth); That form would make him the one to beat here on first start for Harry Fry (who has always been real trainer) but heavy ground a potential major problem seeing as he missed Fighting Fifth for it.

Zarkandar: Not such a good second season hurdling after wins in Triumph Hurdle and at Aintree (ahead of Grandouet in Triumph, both better horses now), underling his huge talent when taking the Betfair Hurdle on his seasonal reappearance giving weight to all but one of his rivals; Only fifth in Champion Hurdle but way race developed didn’t suit him and given lot of ground to make up (then fell at Aintree); Comeback on Elite Hurdle when giving 18lbs and above hinted at serious potential and now gets 4lbs from two main rivals.

Mad Moose: Decent over fences although prone to refusing to race on occcasion; respectable third back over hurdles after reufising on seasonal debut and was well held over the fixed brush obstacles at Haydock since; Wants further and not good enough.

Minella Theatre: Well beaten in Becher Chase; Won’t be quick enough.

One Cool Shabra: Scored 3 times over hurdles last term and has landed a trio of Flat wins this year; Not good enough.

Red Riverman: Improved markedly when second to Hinterland but still not shown much to suggest he can hold it with these.

VERDICT: A very strong renewal on form thanks to the presence of the UK’s three best 2m hurdlers, so it’s a shame the ground had to turn testing. As such, stakes should be kept to minimum (or just left) but ZARKANDAR has always threatened to be the best of these three and comes here with a run under his belt and a 4lbs weight swing, so makes the most appeal. A double for today and the Champion is a tempting 14/1 for those who find 8/1 too short, although with the ground as it is nothing is certain. Rock On Ruby and Grandouet are top class but one gets the feeling neither wants soft ground.