Zaynar just champion for Tinkler

ANDREW Tinkler has expressed his delight after picking up the ride on Nicky Henderson's Zaynar in Tuesday's Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The news comes after the Seven Barrows handler was able to firm up jockey plans for the race following confirmation last year's third-place finisher and stablemate Binocular would take his place in the line-up. The JP McManus-owned gelding had initially been ruled out of the race on 17 February but following a pleasing schooling session on Wednesday, he came through a gallop yesterday with flying colours.

His participation means McManus' retained jockey Tony McCoy will be aboard Binocular and with Barry Geraghty opting to ride last year's winner Punjabi, Tinkler will now get the leg up on Zaynar.

"It's brilliant news and he's a horse who I obviously had a good win on at Ascot and he goes there with a live chance," said Tinkler. "His form is there to see and he's obviously a Cheltenham winner. "I think on better ground he'll come out with a bit more zest and a bit more speed and apparently he's in good form at home."

Zaynar's Champion Hurdle credentials took a big knock when he was beaten as the 1-14 favourite at Kelso last time, but Tinkler was keen to praise his conqueror, Quwetwo.

"I think Nicky was glad he went there as he had to be beaten some time and a lot of attention was on Zaynar's defeat, where as the winner didn't get the credit he deserved," Tinkler added.

Geraghty admits the decision to side with Punjabi was not an easy one but his recent success at Kempton left the jockey suitably impressed. Geraghty said: "After a lot of hard thinking, I'm going to stay loyal and ride Punjabi in the Champion Hurdle. It was not an easy decision to make because Zaynar is a very talented horse that any jockey would want to ride, but I couldn't get off the reigning Champion Hurdler when he's in such good form. But more important still, he just gave me the most unbelievable feel at Kempton, when he really picked up impressively. I'm sure he is simply a spring horse and just comes to himself at this time of year, it was just a much better feel at Kempton to the one he gave me the time before at Haydock.

"My decision should not reflect at all on Zaynar as I'm sure he'll run a big race. It is a tribute to the team that Binocular is now back in the picture," Geraghty went on.

"I got the impression that Nicky was buzzing after he schooled last week.

"It's great that Nicky and the owners are letting Andrew Tinkler ride Zaynar in the Champion and I really am delighted about that because he deserves the chance on a well-fancied ride in a championship race. He gave him a terrific ride when they won at Ascot early in the season."