The six year old cantered to a second successive victory in the Grand Prix d’Automne (Autumn Champion Hurdle) to add to his crown in last June’s Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil (French Champion Hurdle). The talented jumper possesses exceptional class on the flat as he demonstrated when accelerating effortlessly clear of his adversaries in the Grade 1 hurdle.

A glance at Zaiyad’s pedigree is enough to discover that his quality is no coincidence. The son of Sadler’s Wells is a half brother to the Aga Khan’s Prix de Diane and Prix Saint-Alary winner Zainta (Kahyasi) and his third dam is the legendary race-mare Petite Etoile.

Zaiyad carried H.H. the Aga Khan’s colours on the flat, winning two races and being placed as a three-year-old before being sold to current owner Sean Mulryan at Saint Cloud’s Arc sale in 2004. Zaiyad is without doubt France’s leading hurdler and connections are now planning a campaign in top staying events in England, with the main objective being the World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.