Walsh works magic on Zarkandar

Paul Nicholls had started to doubt the desire of Zarkandar but the application of blinkers and a step up in trip showed the six-year-old in a vastly different light as he thwarted The New One in what looked a top-quality John Smith’s Aintree Hurdle.

The New One, expected to be one of next year’s stars after his novice victory at Cheltenham and supported into 11-4 favourite against the big boys, very nearly made off with the prize but Sam Twiston-Davies could never quite displace Ruby Walsh and Zarkandar from the front and were held by just half a length.

Zarkandar (11-2) wore blinkers on the Flat in France but Nicholls had not needed to resort to them in his three British campaigns, which had already yielded a Triumph, a Betfair Hurdle and most recently Cheltenham’s International Hurdle.