Blue-blood Zarkandar Triumphs

Zarkandar, as well a bred horse to ever go jumping, landed the Grade 1 JCB Triumph Hurdle under Daryl Jacob at Cheltenham today.

Sam Winner may have been the stable select of Paul Nicholls but though he came home well he could only manage fourth as Zarkandar stayed on too stoutly for Irish hope Unaccompanied (squeezed a bit for room going to the last by the winner) with Grandouet not finding as much as expected, keeping on at one pace to finish third.

Jacob, with a Donegal and Wexford background, said: "I'd like to thank Paul very much and the owners. They stayed loyal to me. I'm delighted, over the moon.

"The Kempton win of this horse was very very good and he is very very tough."

Meanwhile, Nicholls, saddling his third Festival winner, following on from Al Ferof and Big Buck's, said: "I'm delighted to be able to give Daryl a winner as he has worked hard and he narrowly missed out the other day on Rock On Ruby."

Dermot Weld has grand designs for runner-up Unaccompanied after her brave effort in defeat.

He said: "She ran a super race. She stays well and I suppose the winner didn't do us a lot of favours coming to the last.

"I think she's a mare you're going to hear a lot more of and we will probably run in the Salsabil Stakes at Navan in a few weeks' time.

"After that she'll go for the Grade One novice hurdle at Punchestown."