Samcro remained unbeaten after four races over hurdles, and seven starts in his career, with a convincing victory in Wednesday's Grade 1 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at 2 5-8 miles at Cheltenham.

A 6-year-old gelding, Samcro had an ideal trip under jockey Jack Kennedy. Samcro was fifth for the first two miles, moved closer to the leaders with about a half-mile remaining and took the lead two hurdles from the finish.  In the final furlong, Kennedy backhanded Samcro a few times with his whip, but was otherwise in control of the race.

The 8-11 favorite, Samcro won by 2 3-4 lengths over Black Op, an 8-1 chance who never seemed to be a threat to the winner. Next Destination (4-1) finished third in the field of 14.

The $174,462 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle was Samcro's first start in England. Trained in Ireland by Gordon Elliott, Samcro won his first three starts over hurdles in that country by a combined 32 1-2 lengths. Samcro won his first three starts in Bumpers, or two-mile races for National Hunt horses that did not race in flat races.