Hib earns winter ticket

Hibiki booked his ticket to the Cheltenham Festival as he just held off the late surge of 33-1 shot Prince Du Beury in the Alfa Aggregates Products Novices’ Hurdle at Ludlow.

Richard Johnson nipped round the inner on the 10-11 favourite but after leading over the third-last he had to get serious with Philip Hobbs’ runner to fend off the outsider by a neck.