Victor Chandler expects Zaynar to relish the step up in trip in Saturday’s Coral Ascot Hurdle.
The bookmaker heads the syndicate who own the JCB Triumph Hurdle winner who faces a clash with Katchit at the Berkshire track.
Chandler said: “We were obviously delighted with the brave performance of Zaynar in the Triumph Hurdle particularly as he looked like he may get tapped for toe at Cheltenham.
“This step up in trip to two miles three and half furlongs should suit him and I understand he has been ticking all the right boxes during the summer break.”
Nicky Henderson’s charge has been installed as the 5/2 favourite for Saturday’s race by the sponsors.
Starluck is set to run at Haydock on Saturday rather than wait for the ‘Fighting Fifth’ a week later.
Connections hope the ground doesn’t get too testing but feel the Tune Into Timeform Radio Hurdle is the ideal target for their progressive four-year-old.
“He’s in at Haydock on Saturday and if the ground wasn’t desperately heavy he’ll go there rather than the Fighting Fifth,” trainer Alan Fleming told At The Races.
“It looks a more obvious stepping stone to the Christmas Hurdle so we’re hoping to run him on Saturday.
“We discussed the Fighting Fifth in terms of the WBX bonus but there’s no point taking the big boys on yet. We’ll have a crack at them at Kempton on ground and a track that might suit us better.”
