Bullish McCain still sweet on Peddlers Cross
Cheshire-based Donald McCain refuses to be overawed by the presence of
big-race favourite Sprinter Sacre in the Grade 1 Racing Post Arkle Chase
at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, believing that his hugely
talented Peddlers Cross is back to his best and will give Nicky
Henderson's market leader plenty to think about on the big day in the
race for the two-mile novice chasing crown, writes Elliot Slater.
Peddlers Cross surrendered his unbeaten record in last season's Champion
Hurdle when giving his all, but eventually finding the outstanding
Hurricane Fly just a length-and-a-quarter too strong for him and was
probably a tired horse when letting the side down at Aintree a few weeks
later. Living up to all the hype, the gelded son of Oscar made a bright
start to his novice chasing career winning twice at his local track of
Bangor, jumping well and looking as though he would prove hard to beat
at Cheltenham
Festival 2012.
Made an odds-on favourite to complete his hattrick in the Grade 2
Wayward Lad Novices Chase at Kempton Park in late-December, owner Tim
Leslie's charge never appeared at ease on the right-handed circuit and
was always at full stretch in trying to keep tabs on Nicky Henderson's
Sprinter Sacre, who eventually ran away from him with embarrassing ease
to score by an eased down 16-lengths and was immediately installed as
the new ante-post favourite for the Arkle.
McCain found that Peddlers Cross had sustained some minor back injuries
during the course of the Kempton contest and has put the seven-year-old
through a series of treatments which appear to have remedied the
problem. Reportedly working once again in tremendous fashion, bookmakers
have been trimming the odds of Peddlers Cross from a post-Kempton high
of 11/2, to a current mark of just 7/2. He remains second-favourite
behind the 5/4 market leader Sprinter Scare who once again hacked up
against good opposition at Newbury recently.
Meanwhile, the Cheltenham
Gold Cup Betting Odds suggest that the race is set to be as
exciting as ever with punters relishing an epic clash. |
