The Aga Khan Studs-bred Diakali received one of the top honours in French racing on Sunday as he was elected Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdler for the last season at the “Courses Et Elevage” awards ceremony.

The son of Haras de Bonneval sire Sinndar earned this honour thanks to his impressive victory in the Gr.1 Prix Alain de Breil last June on just his second outing at Auteuil. In addition to this French summer championship event for his generation, the versatile Diakali had earlier secured the Irish equivalent, the Gr.1 Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown. Diakali has an almost faultless record over jumps, as he has won five of his nine outings in this discipline and been placed in all the others, notably the Gr.1 Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

Diakali was placed on the flat, including a close fourth in the Swiss Derby, before current trainer Willie Mullins spent €160,000 to acquire him at Arqana’s July Sale in 2012.

The gelding is a half-brother to three winners, and is out of Gr.3 Prix du Royaumont victrix Diasilixa (Linamix), a full sister to Group 2 scorer Diamond Mix. Diasilixa has a yearling by Azamour, she is in foal to Nathaniel and will visit Sinndar again this year.