Pigeon ´The One To Beat´

Nigel Twiston-Davies is in a bullish mood ahead of the Supreme Novices´ Hurdle after the manner in which Pigeon Island won on Saturday.

The teak-tough five-year-old has had 20 races in the calendar year and appears to thrive on his racing.

And the way he beat some highly-regarded individuals in the Dovecote Novices´ Hurdle has left his handler believing Pigeon Island is the one to beat in the Festival opener.

"He´s absolutely fine," said Twiston-Davies.

"He´s an extraordinary horse in that he just needs to keep running. Every time we have tried to be kind to him and give him a break he has then needed his next run.

"He´ll go into the Supreme very fit and I think he is the one they´ve all got to beat.

"When they run a lot they don´t tend to do any work at home because they are doing all their work on the racecourse so they may as well go racing and earn some money, they don´t earn anything standing around at home," he told At The Races.

Pigeon Island is a 14-1 chance with Blue Square.

(C) PA Sport