Irving is tops in the Dovecote Paul Nicholls offered the opinion before the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle at Kempton that he did not have much to go with Irving at home - and so it proved in the race itself. Amore Alato opened an early advantage as he bowled along keenly, but Nick Scholfield and Irving were always moving ominously well and were spotted cruising coming to two from home. Easing effortlessly to the front before the last, there was a very minor scare as the 4-6 favourite reached for the obstacle, but he was soon on an even keel and strolled five lengths clear of Amore Alato, taking his record over timber to four from four. Scholfield said: "I just thought in the early part of the race he wasn't travelling with the same zest as at Ascot, but the ground was quite dead and he'll be much better on better ground. "He's a very smart animal, we expected him to win this and he has. For that ground he has picked up well." Nicholls added: "He'd like better ground and the faster they go, the better he'll go. He can sharpen his jumping up a bit, but I couldn't be more thrilled with him. He doesn't need a lot of work, so we can look forward to Cheltenham (Supreme Novices' Hurdle)."
