THE layers took no risks with Nicky Henderson’s Peace And Co, an impressive winner at Doncaster on his British debut and a warm favourite for the JCB Triumph Hurdle before contesting the same sponsors’ Grade 2 trial last week.

Starting at 4/9, he wore earplugs and scored by three lengths from Karezak without ever looking a world-beater but the ground was very tacky and he pulled clear readily enough on the run-in after squeezing through to lead at the last. Karezak ran his race out well after mastering long-time leader Ibis Du Rheu and had seven lengths to spare over Zarib, with the others holding out little hope of success at this level in future.