Nice result when push comes to shove in front of England star

Rugby star Dean Richards was an apt presenter of the prize after Niceandeasy's novice hurdle win as it took some shoving the former number eight would have been proud of to get the 1-3 favourite home.

"He's a little bit quirky," admitted Richard Gilbert of owners Straightline Bloodstock, after Craig Nichol partnered the Keith Dagleish-trained winner to a two-and-a-half-length success.

"He's nice horse and we think a lot of him but he's not straightforward. But that was only his third race and he's still undefeated. We might look at the French Furze Hurdle at Newcastle."