Peddlers victory is delight for Leslie

Shropshire owner Tim Leslie was today celebrating an incredible fast-track to the pinnacle of National Hunt racing.

Leslie, of High Hatton near Shawbury, had the thrill of a Cheltenham Festival winner yesterday when Peddlers Cross took the honours in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle.

The 7-1 shot is trained by Cholmondeley handler Donald McCain, who was delighted for the owner - who entered racing only two years ago.

McCain said: "It was a couple of years ago when Tim rang me and asked for a meeting and I could not have asked for a more supportive owner.

"He told me to buy the horses I wanted and his only brief was the he wanted to attend all the top meetings."

With that in mind, McCain paid out £100,000 for Peddlers Cross at the Bightwells Sales at Cheltenham and from the moment the horse trotted up in a Haydock bumper, that price has looked cheap.

From just four winners last season, Leslie - who works in the City - has already notched up 19 winners this campaign.

Leslie will be hoping for more glory tomorrow when his horse Any Given Day lines up in the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle.

Fellow Shropshire owner Jon Glews has interest in that race in the shape of Investor, who is also trained by McCain.

While the long-awaited Gold Cup clash between Kauto Star and Denman takes centre stage on the final day, there is plenty of other Shropshire connections as the Festival comes to a conclusion.

Cappa Bleu, who won the Foxhunters Chase for Hadnall-based trainer Sheila Crow last season before moving to the yard of Evan Williams, and Possol - who is trained by Downton Hall's Henry Daly - are in the field for the Albert Barlett Novices' Hurdle.

Fighting Chance respresents south Shropshire trainer Richard Lee after creeping into Grand Annual while three county jockeys will be in action. Lee Edwards takes the ride on Blazing Buck in the Triumph Hurdle while Charlie Huxley will be aboard Blazaccio in the Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle.

And Richard Burton will hope to emulate last year's victory on Cappa Bleu when he returns from suspension to ride Gentle George in the Foxhunters.

• Shropshire came close to a Cheltenham double yesterday when the John Hales-owned Al Ferof was second in the concluding Champion Bumper, won by 40-1 shot Cue Card.

By JAMES GARRISON