Peaky plays a blinder for win at Prestbury

PEAKY Boy gave owner Olly Harris his first winner at Cheltenham when making a triumphant introduction to hurdles with an effortless success to kick off the New Year's racing at Prestbury Park.

- ADAM MORGAN

The six-year-old was contesting the Favourite From The Sun Now Daily Maiden Hurdle on his first run for Nicky Henderson, his first hurdling start after winning a bumper and a point-to-point previously.

Under James Bowen he was the 13-8 favourite and made an impression with a straightforward five-length victory, earning a 33-1 quote for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle back at Prestbury Park in March.

"When we started with him, he just needed his wind attending to, but he's very nice," said Henderson.

"He's really laid back and we thought he had a bit of speed. You ask him a question and you always get the answer, but you do need to ask the question, so it is quite hard to judge on the way he does it.

"I think he's very deep like that and there's a lot there. He handles the ground and he jumps well and I'm sure he's going to stay well, he finished strongly and travelled nicely.

"He'll stay at two and a half (miles) for the time being and you would like to run in another race like this. If you get two into them before you have to go deep, then they are going to know a bit more." However, there is unlikely to be a trip to the Cheltenham Festival this term, with Henderson seeing his future lying over the larger obstacles.