Chesterfield claims the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr

Chesterfield nailed Zubayr right on the line to win the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle and provide trainer Seamus Mullins and jockey Danny Sampson with the biggest wins of their careers.

Chesterfield nailed Zubayr right on the line to win the QTS Scottish Champion Hurdle and provide trainer Seamus Mullins and jockey Daniel Sansom with the biggest wins of their careers.

For Sansom, a 7lb conditional, it was just a seventh success and one of those came on the same horse at the Aintree's Grand National meeting.

Sent off at 12-1 following an 11lb rise, he looked booked for second with Zubayr poised for the in-form Paul Nicholls.

However, Zubayr got in tight to the last and Chesterfield stuck on gamely to his task to win by a short head, with Mohaayed third and Vosne Romanee fourth.

Sansom said: " It feels a bit surreal. You can't do anything without the horse, though.

"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."

Mullins said: "This was the plan after Newbury as we knew we wouldn't get in at Cheltenham.

"One of the owners then suggested taking in Aintree on the way as he'd get his ground. He's now won both."

Cloudy Dream (11-4) was rewarded for good runs at both Cheltenham and Aintree when pouncing late to beat Theinval in the Jordan Electric Ltd Future Champions Novices' Chase.

Malcolm Jefferson's grey was second in the Arkle to Altior and at Aintree to Flying Angel, who lost his chance here with a bad blunder down the back straight.

Theinval, who only ran 24 hours earlier, appeared to have matters under control approaching the last but he was slow at it, allowing Brian Hughes to pounce.

Jefferson told ITV Racing: "He's a nice horse to train, he goes on his own and does plenty.

"We look after him, he's had a few races but his first three were spread out.

"I was a little worried coming here just a fortnight after Aintree, but he never left a bite and has been in the paddock every day."

Hughes said: "He's done very well, this is his third Festival so it's a good job by Malcolm to get him here in such good order.

"He only travelled OK today, he missed one or two fences down the back and fiddled away and hit one hard.

"I was just trying to hold on to him but he came alive turning in and I knew he'd finish well.

"I'm delighted he's won a nice prize as he's bumped into one or two good ones this season."

Earlier, proud Scotsman Alan King's Label Des Obeaux (10-1) also left it very late to win the Weatherbys Hamilton Novices' Handicap Chase when claiming Calett Mad.

"I was thinking he was running really well and would be second or third as he nodded at the last and I didn't think we'd get there. Obviously I'm delighted," said King.

"It's great to get a winner having hailed from not far away."

Vaniteux finally landed a big pot over fences for Nicky Henderson in the Scotty Brand Handicap Chase.

A Grade Two winner as a novice he has threatened to go close in a number of decent races over the last two seasons.

Wearing first-time cheekpieces Noel Fehily produced him late to beat Romain De Senam, who pipped Somchine for second.

Henderson said of the 3-1 favourite: "He deserves to win a nice race and it's sponsored by a good friend.

"He's consistent but some days you run him over further and then he doesn't stay it.

"He had cheekpieces on today and we'll see if Noel thinks they made a difference."