NICKY Henderson’s Triumph Hurdle hand looks even stronger following French-bred Peace And Co’s wide-margin success in the Grade 2 bet365 Summit Juvenile Hurdle at Doncaster.

Making his British debut, Peace And Co was keen enough and Daryl Jacob sensibly let him dominate. He was always cruising and 10/11 looked a handsome price long before he passed the post 19 lengths ahead of Starchitect. He will need to act on a faster surface but looks a perfect Triumph candidate and is 5/1 clear favourite in some lists.

“Peace And Go was so good it was scary,’’ Henderson said. “He’s a big horse with lots of scope and doesn’t really look like a three-year-old. I thought he might fall in a hole at the end but he just kept galloping.’’

The trainer also had better news of star two-mile chaser Sprinter Sacre, who is working well after his heart worries and is earmarked for the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17th.

Jamie Spencer has abandoned plans to retire from the saddle and will be riding as a freelance next year. Although the racing world will not be surprised, the about-turn came within hours of Trade Storm’s seventh in the Hong Kong Mile, which Spencer seemed to acknowledge as his last ride.

Twice champion jockey and still only 32, he will not be short of quality material and can count on support from Jamie Osborne, Michael Bell and Kevin Ryan, among others.