Novice Hurdle glory for Peddlers Cross

Peddlers Cross ran out a very game winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire.

Unbeaten in three runs under Rules, the five-year-old looked under pressure turning into the straight as the favourite Rite Of Passage loomed large.

Sleepy Hollow, who had led for a long way, dived through the wing of the second-last flight just as the race was beginning in earnest.

Reve De Sivola was also still travelling very well at the head of affairs, and looked likely to hold on after seeing off the jolly.
But Maguire went into overdrive on Peddlers Cross (7-1), who found plenty for pressure to beat Reve De Sivola by a length and a half, with Rite Of Passage third.

The well-fancied Quel Esprit, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Ruby Walsh, was an early casualty.

Maguire said: 'I'm absolutely delighted. We walked the course this morning and, fair play to Donald, it was his decision to go over two miles and five (furlongs).

'The horse showed plenty of gears over two miles in soft ground and some thought this might be a bit far for him, but he's done it well. If I'd got beat I would have said I sat too long, but he's just a fair horse.'

McCain added: 'He's very smart indeed and after he won his novice hurdle at Bangor, Jason got off him and said he was the best horse he'd ever ridden.

'I had to ring him up on the way home to double check what he'd said as I didn't want to question him straight after, but he's a machine.

'He did a piece of work at Bangor last week that scared me to death - it was mind-blowing. We were scared he'd run too free but although he ran with the choke out a bit for the first mile, he's missed a hurdle down the far side and that settled him. Jason has given a peach (of a ride) as well.'

Dermot Weld said of the third-placed Rite Of Passage: 'I'm very pleased. You'd always like to win, but he ran a very good race and was beaten by two very good horses.

'He's now more likely to have a Flat campaign, and you would hope by the end of the year he might make his way Down Under (Melbourne Cup).'