Zarkandar (right)© Photo Healy Racing
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.
Nicholls was visibly shaken by the defeat and refused to answer questions in the immediate aftermath.
Zarkandar is currently 10-1 third-favourite with the sponsors behind last year's champion for the feature event on March 12. Nicholls' other big hope, last week's Cleeve Hurdle winner Saphir Du Rheu is second in the betting behind the Jonjo O'Neill-trained More Of That in most lists.
And the trainer says he has since been pleased with Zarknadar's progress.
Nicholls said: "Zarkandar goes straight to Cheltenham. I didn't talk to the press afterwards, because we don't like getting beat a short head in Grade Ones and it didn't quite work out quite how we hoped it would.
"Sam learned a big lesson that day as to the way he rode Saphir Du Rheu taking on and beating Reve De Sivola last week (at Cheltenham).
"Zarkandar got left in front a bit too soon at Ascot and a more competitive race will suit him.
"Last year was almost an afterthought running him the World Hurdle. We've kept him fresh for it this year and trained him for it, and he's in good shape.
"We knows he stays. All he wants is a bit of cover and to attack late.
"It is just unfortunate the way it worked out at Ascot.
"I was listening to Ruby (Walsh, Nicholls's former stable jockey) on Racing UK the other day, and he thinks Zarkandar is the one they've all got to beat.
"I've no idea about jockey plans yet, though. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
