PEDDLERS CROSS is still unbeaten under Rules and impossible to oppose here, despite conceding weight all round. Donald McCain's six-year-old is at the forefront of the betting for this year's Champion Hurdle after relegating reigning champion Binocular into third place in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newbury in November and there is nothing of the subsequent Christmas Hurdle winner's calibre among today's opposition. Walkon was a very smart juvenile hurdler and is most likely to follow the favourite home if Alan King has him relatively straight after a long absence as, barring accidents, neither Washington Irving nor Ruthenoise have much chance according to official figures.
Peddlers Cross (IRE) 9-4 (11-7) Chased clear leader, closed 2nd, challenged 3 out, soon led, ridden and strongly pressed last, stayed on strongly flat, won at Newbury 2m hdl G1 (1) gs in Nov beating Starluck (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 5 ran.
Walkon (FR) 2-1fav (11-0) Tracked leaders, not fluent 6th, went 2nd soon after, challenging when not fluent 3 out, led 2 out, in command last, driven clear, won at Aintree 2m 4yo nov hdl G1 (1) gd in Apr '09 beating Ski Sunday (11-0) by 13l, 13 ran.
Washington Irving (IRE) 8-1 (11-2) Held up in touch, effort approaching 3 out, soon weakened, 6th of 11, 22l behind Quartz De Thaix (11-12) at Aintree 2m 4f hcp hdl (2) sft in Nov.
Ruthenoise (FR) 33-1 (11-7) Took keen hold, chased leader, led before 5th, wandered under pressure and headed between last 2, chased winner, no impression when weakened and lost 3 places close home, 5th of 14, 3l behind Marleno (10-12) at Taunton 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-120 (3) gs in Dec.
