At Fishers Cross Cruises Home At Fishers Cross (11/8 favourite) was far too good for the rest of the field in the Grade 1 John Smith's Sefton Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. Not for the first time on Ladies' day, AP McCoy sat motionless in JP McManus' famous green and gold silks approaching the final flight and the pair cruised home for an emphatic eight-length success. Paul Nicholls' Just A Par (8/1) ran on for second with Buachaill Alainn (40/1) staying on for third. Rebecca Curtis' six-year-old answered the question marks about his ability to go as well on better ground and McManus said afterwards: "They've done a wonderful job here at Aintree with the ground. He's exceeded all our expectations and he still seems to be improving." McCoy said: "This horse has been winning all winter on heavy ground. For some reason last season he couldn't jump and he was hard to get right. "Rebecca (Curtis) has done unbelievably well and has turned him inside out. She was adamant he would cope with the ground - we could have taken the windy route and leave him after winning at Cheltenham. "He was every bit as good as he was at Cheltenham, but it wasn't as good a race. He felt every bit as good, he's getting the hang of winning. "It's great for JP and Noreen (McManus, owners) to get winners at these big meetings. "He's a good horse. He was the best horse and he stays. "I made sure he didn't get done for toe and from the last to the winning post he just kept going. He's a lovely little horse." Curtis said: "I was a bit worried about the ground today, but he's proving to be really versatile. "He jumped brilliantly and he still seems to be improving. I don't see any rush to go over fences and we'll go down the staying hurdle route next season." Sky Bet cut the winner from 6/1 to 9/2 for next year's Ladbrokes World Hurdle.
