Zaynar lays down marker at Ascot
Saturday, 21 November 2009 15:43Zaynar made an impressive return to action as he strolled home in the Coral Ascot Hurdle.
Off the track since winning the Triumph Hurdle in March, Nicky Henderson's charge was sent off the 9-4 joint favourite in the hands of Andrew Tinkler, who was riding the four-year-old for the first time.
He barely had a moment of worry, sitting in behind early pacesetter Lough Derg before kicking on to take it up two flights from home.
Fellow market leader Karabak tried to go with him but Zaynar was a couple of lengths clear approaching the last and he extended that advantage to pull six lengths clear at the line.
Karabak kept on for second with Red Moloney a further 17 lengths back in third.
Tinkler said afterwards: 'I jumped there (to the front) and without the cheekpieces (he wore in the Triumph) I didn't want to disappoint him.
'One kick in the belly and he sprinted away - he's top class.
"He's only had three runs in his life and he was running away from the whip a bit but you can't knock him.'
