Nicholls salutes super Zar

THE Paul Nicholls-trained Sam Winner was a big gamble in the JCB Triumph Hurdle, but it was his other runner, Zarkandar, who had all the answers.

Giving the talented and Wexford-born Daryl Jacob a first festival success, the ex-French horse swept clear going to the final flight to beat Dermot Weld's gallant mare, Unaccompanied.

Jacob said: "Thanks very much to Paul and the owners for keeping me on this horse. I'm just so delighted, over the moon.