THERE is a new divisional leader on time among the novice hurdlers in the shape of Samcro, who continues to live up to his billing as the most exciting young hurdler around.

His average speed in winning the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan on Sunday was faster than the two hurdles and one bumper run at the half-mile shorter trip of 16 furlongs on the same card (though there are the usual reservations about the accuracy of race distances).