Zaynar now tops the betting with William Hill for the 2009 Triumph Hurdle after a strong victory in the opener at Newbury today.
William Hill make the son of Daylami the 6-1 (from 14-1) favourite for the four-year-old event at Cheltenham next March.
The expected tussle between Paul Nicholls’s Hebredian did not come to fruition after the Irish import came under pressure before the last flight. Hills have now eased the former Aidan O’Brien gelding out of the favourites’ spot to 25-1 from 12-1.
Kate Miller, spokeswoman for Hills, said: ‘’ Zaynar’s victory today certainly made the Triumph picture a bit clearer for Cheltenham. We’d seen significant ante-post support for him even before he’d jumped a hurdle in public, so he clearly had his fans even before today’s win.’’
JCB Triumph Hurdle 2009: 6-1 Zaynar (from 14-1), 14-1 Starluck, 16-1 Lethal Weapon, Simarian, Tharawaat, 20-1 Cosmea, Pepite de Soleil, Walkon (inserted), 25-1 Donegal, Giorgio Quercus, Hebredian (from 12-1), Mount Helicon, 33-1 Helium, Indian Groom, Just Rob, Master of Arts, Mr Thriller, Nampour, Saticon, 40-1 Black Jacari, Others on Request (EW ¼ 1,2,3,4)