Peddlers on course for Cheltenham

RACING:PEDDLERS CROSS is firmly on course for the Stan James Champion Hurdle after extending his unbeaten record to seven in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso yesterday.

The six-year-old faced just eight rivals as he sealed his Cheltenham Festival preparations with a bloodless 11-length verdict.

Sent off a 1 to 6 shot, Peddlers Cross travelled sweetly for Jason Maguire on the heels of the leaders, easing into the lead on the run to the last.

While he idled on the run-in and was given few reminders by Maguire, Donald McCain’s charge had plenty in hand over runner-up Bygones Of Brid.

McCain was relieved to get his stable star back on the track after plans to run at Haydock last month were scuppered by the weather, while a cough ruled him out of a possible outing earlier this month.

“He has been switched off a bit at home because he has been on the go for so long,” said McCain.

“I have not been looking forward to today, all the tests we have done have been clear but I have seen him better.

“We needed to get a run into him though. He travelled well but he looked at the stands on the run-in and I said to Jason not to be afraid to give him a couple of smacks.

“This race was instead of a racecourse gallop. I was not thrilled when the ground went heavy and he will have a quiet week now, but we have a month to get him ready for Cheltenham.” Maguire added: “He travelled well and jumped well and coped with the ground.

“He just idled on the run-in and I gave him a few reminders, it was a horse race and there was a job to do.”

Peddlers Cross remains a 5 to 1 shot with totesport for the Cheltenham test, while they have Binocular heading the market at 3 to 1 and Menorah second best at 9 to 2.

Premier Sagas (9 to 4), sporting the same colours as Monet’s Garden, continued on the upgrade with a 22-length success under Dougie Costello in the Timeform Festival Trial Novices’ Chase and will now step up in class.

Trainer Nicky Richards was pleased to welcome Monet’s Garden back to his Greystoke yard yesterday as he continues to recover from a life-threatening foot problem.

The trainer added: “Our lucky charm is back in the yard.”