Peddlers gets job done at Kelso

Peddlers Cross shrugged off his rivals in the Victor Chandler Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso.

Jason Maguire had the Stan James Champion Hurdle fancy in third place for a long way, but after jumping his hurdles impeccably, he came through to lead at the penultimate flight.

Donald McCain's stable star looked like winning by a big margin but his jockey had to get serious with him late on as the tacky ground took its toll.

Sent off the 1-6 favourite, Maguire drove him home for an ultimately comprehensive win, 11 lengths clear of the front-running Bygones Of Brid (10-1) in second.

Hollins (33-1) ran on well for third, with Orsippus back in fourth.

Peddlers Cross had missed an intended run at Haydock in January after the meeting was abandoned and he also bypassed a possible outing earlier this month after coughing.

McCain said: "He's was switched off at home because he has been on the go for so long.

"All the tests we did with him were clear, but I have seen him a lot better.

"We needed to get a run into him and now we've got a month to get him right for Cheltenham."

Immediate reaction from bookmakers was to leave the six-year-old unchanged for the Champion Hurdle in March, with prices ranging from 5-1 to 6-1.