Maguire: Cross is a champion

Jason Maguire has no doubt that the classy Peddlers Cross will underline his Champion Hurdle credentials when he runs at Haydock on Saturday.

The six-year-old, trained by Donald McCain, is one of eight entries for the Champion Hurdle Trial. They include Triumph Hurdle hero Soldatino, who also holds an alternative engagement at Ascot, and Walkon, who makes his eagerly-awaited return to action.

Maguire will renew his partnership with Peddlers Cross, who landed the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at last year's Cheltenham Festival and took the scalp of reigning champion Binocular in the Fighting Fifth at Newbury in November.

The jockey says it will be tough for his rivals to remove the star's unbeaten tag, despite giving them upwards of 4lb. "Peddlers Cross is a great horse. He's done brilliantly since he arrived back in the yard," said Maguire. "When he won his bumper on his debut we knew we had a good horse. He was keen that day and still picked up.

"Everyone dreams about having a good horse. He did it at Cheltenham and he was impressive on his first run back at Newbury after a good break, so I don't think the lay-off will be a problem. His jumping was so slick at Newbury. While he'll come on a touch for the run, we'd be pretty confident."

Meanwhile, Paul Nicholls revealed today that Kauto Star was suffering from an infection when he was beaten in the King George VI Chase.