Big push from Peddlers bags Neptune
Peddlers Cross (right) and Reve De Sivola lock horns
Peddlers Cross ran out a very game winner of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire.
Unbeaten in three runs under Rules, the five-year-old looked under pressure turning into the straight as the favourite Rite Of Passage loomed large and Reve De Sivola travelled well at the head of affairs.
Maguire went into overdrive on Peddlers Cross (7-1), who found plenty for pressure to beat Reve De Sivola by a length and a half, with Rite Of Passage third. The well-fancied Quel Esprit was an early casualty.
Maguire said: "I'm absolutely delighted. Fair play to Donald, it was his decision to go over two miles and five (furlongs).
"The horse showed plenty of gears over two miles in soft ground and some thought this might be a bit far for him, but he's done it well."
McCain added: "He's very smart indeed and after he won his novice hurdle at Bangor, Jason got off him and said he was the best horse he'd ever ridden.
"I had to ring him up on the way home to double check what he'd said as I didn't want to question him straight after, but he's a machine. He did a piece of work at Bangor last week that scared me to death - it was mind-blowing.
"We were scared he'd run too free, but although he ran with the choke out a bit for the first mile, he's missed a hurdle down the far side and that settled him. Jason has given him a peach (of a ride) as well.
"We were thinking about the two-and-a-half mile race at Aintree as the obvious next step but there's no rush, we'll get him home and take it from there."
McCain's father Ginger, legendary trainer of the great Red Rum, joked: "If he was with a proper trainer he would have won 10 lengths! I wasn't quite sure about his horse as I thought some of his races were suspect. This was crunch day, and he has stepped up to it."
Press Association
