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.

Walsh works magic on Zarkandar

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.

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