Scottish Champion Hurdle winner bags flat finale

“If I had this day once a week I'd be happy!” quipped delighted John McConnell at Leopardstown today as Zahee completed a memorable day for the trainer by winning the concluding Bulmers Handicap.

Anna Bunina had earlier given McConnell a career highlight by winning the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr and at Leopardstown, Zahee (16/1) was steered to victory by his son Cillian McConnell.

After his double, McConnell added “that was brilliant. Obviously he's (Zahee) got a lower mark on the turf and he just needs everything to go right for him. Cillian gave him a lovely ride.

“Cillian has a good racing brain and when he gets a good run of it during the summer he could do really well.

“The horse was a reasonable claim (for €5,000 last March) and a good advertisement for those races. I'm delighted and all the owners are here so it's brilliant.”

Regarding his Scottish heroine Anna Bunina, he added “I was so delighted for everybody in the yard and the owner, they've been patient with her because she had quite a serious injury in the same race last year. It's taken all that time to get her back to her best. She's only a little pony but she's so tough.

“Even though things didn't go smoothly - she got bumped around the place, she picked up really well. It's a great pot to win and a prestigious race so I'm delighted.

“Something like the Swinton Hurdle might suit her, left-handed and flat again. She doesn't need to do much more for us now.

“You might see her on the Flat too as she's not badly handicapped on the Flat.”

The Scottish Champion Hurdle, currently a Grade 2 Limited Handicap, has been won by greats Captain Christy, Comedy Of Errors, Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon, Granville Again and Alderbrook while Golden Cygnet suffering fatal injuries in the 1978 renewal.

Quotes from Gary Carson