Andrew Lynch finally gets his just desserts with Zabana

Sometimes you have to wait for your just desserts. Last month Meath trainer Andrew Lynch brought Zabana, the undoubted star of his quintet of horses, to Cheltenham for the JLT Novices’ Chase.

Hopes were high for his sole Prestbury Park runner. Unlike Irish Gold Cup day at Leopardstown, conditions were perfect. Lynch dared to dream. Then the dream turned into a nightmare. After an initial false start, Zabana was side-on as the tape was raised and, following a collision with Outlander, he unseated Davy Russell as he whipped round. Race over before it had even begun.

The horse seemed to feel the same level of deflation as his connections. A tilt at the Ryanair Gold Cup on Easter Sunday was pondered before being abandoned due to Zabana’s gloomy mood. It wasn’t until the last three weeks that his mojo returned.