Allmankind maintains faultless record with sizzling triumph in Finale Hurdle

Allmankind maintained his perfect record over hurdles when running out a bloodless winner of the Grade 1 Coral Finale Juvenile Hurdle.

The 11-10 favourite, who had earlier landed a Grade 2 contest at Cheltenham, set a blistering pace in testing ground at the Welsh track and he never saw another rival under Harry Skelton.

It was a second top-level success for trainer Dan Skelton after Roksana's mares' hurdle triumph at the festival, and Betfair cut Allmankind to 8-1 (from 16-1) for the Triumph Hurdle.

Winning trainer Skelton commented: "He is a bit one-dimensional but you cannot ride him any other way. Harry said he was a bit sloppy at a couple of hurdles down the far side, but as soon as he hit the home turn he was away again."

On future plans before a potential tilt at the Triumph Hurdle, he added: "I tried giving him a break after he won at Cheltenham in November but he would not let me as he just wanted to run again."

All smiles: Dan Skelton returns to the winner's enclosure with his brother Harry on the victorious AllmankindCredit: Edward Whitaker

The son of Sea The Moon spent his earlier career based with Michael Bell, where he won once and also finished behind dual Group 1 winner Circus Maximus in the Listed Dee Stakes at Chester. He has since thrived for a switch to hurdles, winning his first two starts by a combined 39 and a half lengths.

Irish raider Cerberus, recently purchased by JP McManus, finished a nine-length second under Robbie Power with Nordano back in third spot.

Power said of his mount's effort: "Cerberus has run a blinder. The winner is a good horse on that ground and my lad is not a big horse, and just struggled on it. A bit nicer ground would be ideal for him."

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