Sporadic Missile hits

Irish raider Sporadic Missile led the home team a merry dance in the Addison of Newport Novices' Hurdle at Uttoxeter yesterday.

Backed from 8-1 into 5-1 and enterprisingly ridden by Adrian Maguire, she jumped into the lead at the fifth flight and had drawn well clear approaching the third from home.

She gave her supporters anxious moments at the last two obstacles but still had enough in reserve to hold the challenge of Dunston Bill by a length and a half, the first two drawing well clear of the rest.

Sporadic Missile is trained near Clonmel by Ger Hourigan who was saddling his second winner at the course.

He said: "She didn't stay last time at Cheltenham over two miles five furlongs but I told Adrian not to disappoint her today if she wanted to go on and he rode a great race - she had it won some way out.

"They go so slow in maiden hurdles back home and that does not suit her as she wants a good gallop so we brought her over here because we knew she would get one here."