CONMAN FAR TOO SLICK

Novice John shines for Team Arlary

- BY JOE REILLY

CONMAN JOHN gave his opponents the slip in the William Hill Final Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore raider was a 4/1 shot for the three-mile contest having shown class and guts to score on his timber bow over 2m 5f at Kelso. Jockey Derek Fox was clearly confident that his partner would relish the longer trip as the duo battled it out in front with Easy Love (10/1) for most of the race.

The gelding finally saw off that rival at the eighth flight but he soon faced a stiff challenge from the cruising Great Fleet (20/1).