Zaynar Drifts In Champion Hurdle Betting Following Defeat At Kelso

The ante post Champion Hurdle favourite Zaynar, was beaten in his warm up race at Kelso this afternoon. At odds of 1/14 on he was beaten in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle by Quwetwo who he had at least two stone in hand of on his official handicap mark. It will be interesting to see if he will now take his place in the Champion Hurdle but this probably makes Jockey Barry Geraghty decision an easy one as he will now probably ride last years winner of the Champion Hurdle Punjabi.

One of the joint owners of the Zaynar is Victor Chandler who is part of the Men In Our Position Syndicate and is the well known owner of the Victor Chandler Bookmaking firm. His firm have been clear in their strategy of offering the worst price about his horse so as not to take much money on his own horse, a decision he will now be regretting.

Trainer of Zaynar and Punjabi, Nicky Henderson is currently joint second on the all-time list for Festival winners courtesy of three victories last season, headed by the success of Punjabi in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle. The master of Seven Barrows looks set to have another strong hand in the race this term as well as elsewhere during The Cheltenham Festival because of a raft of novice chase talent including the likes of Punchestowns, Long Run and Riverside Theatre. Henderson now has four successes in the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle and if he achieves victory in the hurdling championship this year he will join Peter Easterby as the race’s leading trainer.

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