Ante-post favourite Zaynar may not switch back to two miles before the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle.
Zaynar beats Walkon in the 2009 Triumph Hurdle
Last year’s JCB Triumph Hurdle winner has been campaigned at two-and-a-half this season, winning the Coral Ascot Hurdle and the Unicoin Homes Relkeel Hurdle. It was suggested after his victory in the latter at Cheltenham that he would take in a two-mile trial before Cheltenham, but that may not be the case.
“It’s not necessary for sure – it would probably be preferable but I don’t mind going two-and-a-half again if necessary,” trainer Nicky Henderson told sportinglife.com.
Despite the cold-snap Henderson has been able to keep his powerful string in Lambourn on the go.
“We’re ticking along quite well. It’s not easy at the moment, we’re having to improvise, but we’re ticking over alright,” he said.
