McCain keeps faith with odds-on Peddlers Cross

RACING: Bookmakers may not have been impressed by the long odds-on victory of Peddlers Cross at Musselburgh yesterday but Donald…

RACING:Bookmakers may not have been impressed by the long odds-on victory of Peddlers Cross at Musselburgh yesterday but Donald McCain has lost none of his faith in the 2011 Champion Hurdle runner-up.

Sent off at 1 to 5 in a four-runner Howies Restaurants Edinburgh Hurdle that had been framed with him in mind, Peddlers Cross tracked his stablemate Ubaltique into the straight before hitting the front.

Jason Maguire was only sitting on him until after the last but as Cue To Cue challenged the rider had to pull the whip and while he crossed the line hard held in the end, Coral pushed him out to 14 to 1 from 10s for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle. McCain said: “My first thought was that he could have been a little more impressive, but when I spoke to Jason he was full of him and he’s the man that matters.

“He was happy with everything that we were worried about and he said his jumping was exceptional and he can’t understand why we ever tried him over fences. Jason said he felt more like a World Hurdle horse today than he ever has.”

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“You don’t see the best of these horses until they are going championship pace when they settle better.”

Thurles inspection Adverse forecast

Thurles will hold an 8am precautionary course inspection ahead of today’s scheduled all-chase fixture due to an adverse weather forecast.