Jockey Daniel Sansom admitted it felt almost unreal to land Saturday’s Scottish Champion Hurdle on Chesterfield.
The seven-year-old won the battle with Zubayr to score in the Grade Two Ayr contest, returning at 12/1 for trainer Seamus Mullins.
It capped a decent couple of weeks for the son of Pivotal, who landed the Pinsent Masons Handicap Hurdle at Aintree on April 8.
Chesterfield stayed on strongly under pressure from Zubayr, with 5/1 joint-favourite Mohaayed third ahead of Vosne Romanee.
Sansom was delighted with the result and paid tribute to his mount and to those who believed he had what it takes to be a professional.
“It feels a bit surreal. You can’t do anything without the horse, though,” he said. “I started in the pointing fields about three years ago and then Seamus asked me to join him as an amateur before turning professional last year.
“I just feel so thankful to everyone. I wasn’t even sure I’d won crossing the line.”
