McCain's Cross wins Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree

Donald McCain’s Peddlers Cross maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive display in the John Smith’s Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.

Sent off the 5-4 favourite to supplement his victory in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the five-year-old was never too far off the pace under Jason Maguire.

The youngster cruised to the front halfway up the home straight and although he began to idle after jumping the final flight, he still had two lengths in hand passing the post.

Duke Of Lucca filled the runner-up spot, with Najaf rallying late to get third.

Maguire said: "My one worry was that I probably took it up too soon. There was a bit of bunching at the third-last but he landed running and rather than disappoint him I sent him on because he stays well. He’s done it well.

“It’s a different track and different circumstances to Cheltenham, you’ve always got in the back of your mind that he had a hard race but it’s a great training performance by Donald.”