Guard lands International Old Guard got the best of a thrilling finish to the International Hurdle, as Peace And Co blew his chance with a mid-race burst of exuberance. The Paul Nicholls-trained 7/1 winner, who came into this contest after winning the Greatwood Hurdle at the Open meeting, finally got the measure of Sempre Medici and Hargam on the run-in after the trio had taken the final flight almost in a line. But the story of the contest concerned Peace And Co, who took issue at the slow pace of the race and pulled himself to the front after the fourth-last flight with Daryl Jacob seemingly unable to do anything about it. Peace And Co was still in front two out, but Jacob did not pursue the lost cause when his rivals all swept past soon afterwards. "I always said he'd improve, but I never thought he'd improve this much," he said. "I just hope he keeps improving as he gets stronger. "An even faster-run race would suit him, as he's got stamina, so the obvious way to go now is to train him for Champion. He'll have a bit of a break now and have one race before - maybe at Wincanton." After a season where he dominated many of the big prizes, the current campaign has been quieter for the reigning champion, but he said: "After last year, everyone expects it to happen every Saturday, but to win one like this is brilliant." Twiston-Davies, winning his third International in a row after two victories with The New One, said: "He's coming up through the ranks and he's progressing well. "He travelled very well down to the last and when I asked him for everything after it he was very tough. "He has all the right attributes, and he stays very well, which you need to do to win a Champion Hurdle."
