Perfect Peddlers looks just champion
Peddlers Cross made a smooth transition to full company as he landed the StanJames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury today.
The Donald McCain-trained runner finished his novice campaign unbeaten last term and stepped up to the mark again under Jason Maguire in this Grade One heat.
Starluck made a real battle of it in the closing stages but Peddlers Cross held on with reigning champion hurdler Binocular back in third.
Maguire set in second through the early stages as Bygones Of Brid set a steady pace upfront and turning for home Peddlers Cross was still cruising while Starluck and Binocular were also travelling on the bridle.
Peddlers Cross (9-4) pushed through to take it up two flights from home with 5-6 favourite Binocular racing on his inside and Starluck poised to make his challenge.
Although Maguire had to get to work, Binocular was the first to cry enough and with Starluck switched to race in between the two, it looked his for the taking after the last.
However, Peddlers Cross was more than up to the challenge, eventually coming home a length and a quarter clear.
William Hill reacted by cutting Peddlers Cross to 5-1 from 12-1 for the Champion Hurdle while pushing Binocular out to 7-2 from 11-4 to retain his Cheltenham crown.
Maguire said: "He did it great, he's come up against the top league now and he's the star we thought we had.
"They've gone steady enough and I was at the front turning in. We always thought a stronger pace might be better but that shows he's got the boot if he needs it.
"We discussed it (tactics) last night, you don't want to go too quick and shoot yourself in the foot so I sent him on in the straight as we wanted to save a bit. I thought he picked up again after the last though.
"He was very good today, relaxed in the race and if we can keep him in that frame of mind, that will help.
"I think he's definitely a Champion Hurdle horse."
McCain was similarly thrilled, adding: "We knew he was very good, but he was a novice last year and until you step up you don't really know.
"He's done everything we hoped. He's absolutely frightening - the speed he's got is phenomenal. I've never dealt with a horse like this, but we've got one now.
"We wanted to stay over hurdles for another 12 months and I couldn't see him going over three miles as he seems to have got quicker and quicker.
"We came here to find out if we are a championship two-miler and we are. He can only improve for Cheltenham, a bigger field and a stronger pace, but I wouldn't have a clue where we'll go next."
Alan Fleming is looking forward to a repeat trip to Kempton with Starluck following his honourable defeat.
"You can't be disappointed as Donald holds the winner in the highest regard," he said.
"He will improve a bit he wasn't quite 100% today and he will definitely go for the Christmas Hurdle."
Nicky Henderson was not too downcast about Binocular's performance.
He said: "He jumped well and he's taken a blow coming to the last. I'm disappointed we haven't won, but I'm not disappointed with the horse."
