Zarkandar seeking World Hurdle domination

Zarkandar will head straight to the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival with an upbeat report from trainer Paul Nicholls.

The eight-year-old, who finished fourth to More Of That in last year’s three-mile showpiece, was touched off by Reve De Sivola in the JLT Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot just before Christmas.

Sam Twiston-Davies’s mount was seemingly running all over Reve De Sivola but downed tools when hitting the front and his rival battled back to win.