Ebadiyan leaps into Triumph picture

Oliver Brady's Ebadiyan earned an 8-1 quote from William Hill for the Triumph Hurdle after winning the Grade 3 Punchestown Juvenile Hurdle today.

The meeting was frozen off on Saturday but was hastily rescheduled and Ebadiyan made it two from two over hurdles with an eight-length success over Gordon Elliott's Tharawaat.

Brady, who picked up the son of Daylami after a Flat carer with John Oxx, said: "This horse goes to Cheltenham and I think I've finally got my dream to have one as good as him for the Festival. It's taken a long time but I've made it."

The grey, sent off at 15-8, travelled well under jockey John Cullen alongside Tharawaat before quickening on the turn for home for an emphatic success.

Meanwhile, Alan King is relishing the prospect of again taking on JCB Triumph Hurdle favourite Zaynar with Walkon.

The pair clashed at Newbury in November and while Nicky Henderson's charge came out on top that day, the runner-up was conceding him seven pounds.

With Walkon going on to win the Finale Hurdle at Chepstow over Christmas, the Barbury Castle handler reports him to be on target for the Festival.

King said: "Walkon has improved again since Chepstow.

"It looks like we won't meet until the Triumph as Zaynar is expected to run at Ascot at the weekend and Walkon goes to Cheltenham on 24 January."