Josses impressive in opening novice

Josses Hill advertised the star quality of his Cheltenham Festival conqueror Vautour by putting up an authoritative display under Barry Geraghty to win the International Festival For Business 2014 Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.

Having found Willie Mullins' hugely impressive French recruit six lengths too good in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Prestbury Park last month, the Nicky Henderson-trained six-year-old was a 6-4 favourite for his Grade Two assignment on Merseyside.

The well-backed market leader moved sweetly into the home straight, but Supreme fourth Sgt Reckless quickly loomed up as a big danger and looked likely to come out on top. The Seven Barrows runner was in control jumping the final obstacle, however, and stayed on best on the run-in to score by six lengths.

Pat Shanahan's raider King Of The Picts was never far off the pace and finished off his race strongly to pick up minor honours in third.

Geraghty said: "He's very genuine and he tries. He didn't travel and jump as well as I'd like and he's had a busy enough time, but he really responds. I knew I'd stay well and soon after AP (McCoy, on Sgt Reckless) joined me, I knew I had the measure of him.

"He met a very good horse at Cheltenham and I think he's a horse with a massive future over fences."

Henderson added: "It was a good performance, he did it really well. I think this horse is a chaser. I can't believe he won't be going chasing next year. We'll see. There's a long summer to think about it. He's a lovely looking horse. He looks like a chaser and he gallops as well as he looks. He looks like an Arkle horse to me.

"He was second to our own horse Royal Boy in a Grade One at Kempton, so he deserved to get a good prize at the end of the day and he's been consistent all the year through."

Mick Channon felt the rain that fell on Thursday night may have cost Sgt Reckless and is looking ahead to Punchestown.

He said: "He has run well - he could have done without that bit of rain that fell last night - but there are no excuses. I think they (the owners) are thinking of going chasing next season, but I'm not sure what we'll do. He has a lot of speed and a lot of class. He'll probably go to Punchestown."

Shanahan said of King Of The Picts: "I'm pleased, every time he has run in Grade One company he has been placed. We can freshen him up for the Grade One at Punchestown."