Cross struggles to Boyne success

GOLDEN CROSS is on course for a tilt at the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival despite an unconvincing victory at Navan yesterday.

Mick Halford’s charge made heavy weather of landing the odds in the five-runner Grade Three McCabe Builders Ltd Boyne Hurdle.

Johnny Murtagh had to work hard on the 8-15 favourite to collar long-time leader Florida Coast in the last 100 yards, before going on to score by a length and a half with Holy Orders finishing third, 11 lengths away. Unsurprisingly, bookmakers were not impressed with VC Bet leaving him unchanged at 7-1 for the stayers’ championship, William Hill still going 6-1 and Cashmans 8-1.