Peddlers lands Kelso prep

Champion Hurdle hope has a good run-out

Last updated: 17th February 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Peddlers Cross: Job done

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Peddlers Cross shrugged off his rivals in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

Jason Maguire had the Champion Hurdle fancy in third place for a long way, but after jumping his hurdles impeccably, he came through to lead at the penultimate flight.

Donald McCain's stable star looked like winning by a big margin but his jockey had to get serious with him late on as the tacky ground took its toll.

Sent off the 1-6 favourite, Maguire drove him home for an ultimately comprehensive win, 11 lengths clear of the front-running Bygones Of Brid (10-1) in second.

Hollins (33-1) ran on well for third, with Orsippus back in fourth.

Peddlers Cross had missed an intended run at Haydock in January after the meeting was abandoned and he also bypassed a possible outing earlier this month after coughing.

McCain said: "He's was switched off at home because he has been on the go for so long.

"All the tests we did with him were clear, but I have seen him a lot better.

"We needed to get a run into him and now we've got a month to get him right for Cheltenham."

Immediate reaction from bookmakers was to leave the six-year-old unchanged for the Champion Hurdle in March, with prices ranging from 5-1 to 6-1.

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