Peddlers takes Fighting Fifth Peddlers Cross maintained his unbeaten record with an impressive win at odds of 9/4 in the Grade One Stanjames.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury this afternoon. Reigning Champion Hurdler Binocular was sent off the 5-6 favourite but, despite jumping well throughout, Tony McCoy didn't look happy early in the straight and he found little for pressure. Indeed, it was Starluck (7-1) who was travelling best of all on the run-in, but the Donald McCain-trained horse found more under Jason Maguire to score by one and a quarter lengths. Starluck finished second with Binocluar back in third. Peddlers Cross was cut to 6-1 for the Champion Hurdle with Binocular pushed out to 7-2. Maguire told Racing UK: "He's got the boot to keep up with the top ones. We didn't want to go off too quick and shoot ourselves in the foot by giving them a lead. The ground worked in our favour." McCain was similarly thrilled, adding: "We knew he was very good, but he was a novice last year and until you step up you don't really know. He's done everything we hoped. He's absolutely frightening - the speed he's got is phenomenal. I've never dealt with a horse like this, but we've got one now. "We wanted to stay over hurdles for another 12 months and I couldn't see him going over three miles as he seems to have got quicker and quicker. "We came here to find out if we are a championship two-miler and we are. He can only improve for Cheltenham, a bigger field and a stronger pace, but I wouldn't have a clue where we'll go next." Alan Fleming is looking forward to a repeat trip to Kempton with Starluck following his honourable defeat, saying:"You can't be disappointed as Donald holds the winner in the highest regard." "He will improve a bit he wasn't quite 100% today and he will definitely go for the Christmas Hurdle." Nicky Henderson was not too downcast about Binocular's performance. "He jumped well and he's taken a blow coming to the last. I'm disappointed we haven't won, but I'm not disappointed with the horse," he said.
