Zaynar successfully defended his unbeaten record over timber on Friday to be crowned champion four-year-old hurdler in the famous Cheltenham arena.

The blue-blooded Zaynar (Daylami) is out of 1998 Prix de Diane heroine Zainta (Kahyasi) and is a nephew of French champion hurdler Zaiyad (Sadler’s Wells) so it is no surprise to see him adapt so well to the jumping discipline. Zaynar raced three times for Alain de Royer Dupré, picking up two second places in the French provinces before being entered in Arqana’s summer sale of horses in training where he was snapped up for €110,000 by Highflyer Bloodstock. Zaynar was immediately propelled to favouritism for the Triumph hurdle after his winning debut over hurdles at Newbury and he justified that respect with an assured victory in the juvenile championship.

Mourad stayed on gamely to secure third place in the Triumph. The son of Sinndar was the winner of two races on the flat for John Oxx and he was sold for 80,000 guineas at Doncaster last October. Mourad is out of Kahyasi mare Mouramara and is a half-brother to international Stakes performer Mourilyan (Desert Prince) and Listed winner Mourayan (Alhaarth). He is now likely to target the Gr.1 Four-Year-Old Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in April.

Another Aga Khan graduate, Simarian, finished seventh in the Triumph Hurdle. This Kalanisi gelding, out of a half-sister to Sinndar, was just a 22,000 guineas purchase in January 2008 and he has since won four races over hurdles including a Cheltenham Grade 2 contest in November.

Ebadiyan (Daylami) also represented the Aga Khan Studs in the race and he looked certain to take a hand in the finish before running out at the second last. The Punchestown Grade 3 scorer had led all the way until this point and was not yet a beaten force. Ebadiyan will have the chance to make amends as he is set to return to Punchestown for the juvenile champion hurdle.