Drever puts Champion claims on line

Inglis Drever will bid to establish himself as one the leading candidates for Champion Hurdle next March when having his first start of the season in the Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle at Newcastle tomorrow.

One of many stars from Howard Johnson’s County Durham yard, the five-year-old will face some top-drawer rivals in the north-east showpiece, run for the first time this year as a Grade One contest.

Included in the line-up for the £75,000 race are the winners of the last two renewals – Intersky Falcon and The French Furze – along with rising Irish star Harchibald.

And Johnson is hoping rain will arrive at Newcastle ahead of Inglis Drever’s first try at two miles, having enjoyed a successful first season over timber which saw him just be touched off by Fundamentalist in the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle.

Connections will be dropping Inglis Drever back to the minimum distance to see if he has the speed to take on Rooster Booster and Hardy Eustace at Cheltenham next March, for which he is a general 16-1 chance.

“He is fine and has done his final piece of work,” Johnson said today. “Tomorrow is a fact-finding mission, but it is just a shame that it hasn’t rained.

“I hope that there is some rain on the way as I have heard that it has gone a bit quick up the straight.

“He will still run but a night’s rain wouldn’t go amiss.”

Johnson will also be represented by Teme Valley, who carries a handicap mark of just 116.

“Teme Valley is there to ensure a good pace and he will be doing his best, but he might not be able to go the gallop,” he added.

Inglis Drever landed three novice events on the spin last term, including a Grade Two event at Warwick by 17 lengths, and will again be partnered by regular pilot Graham Lee.

Intersky Falcon heads back to Gosforth Park to try and follow up his win of 2002, after he trailed home third 12 months ago.

And part-owner Terry McDermott is hoping that a summer breathing operation can help the seven-year-old pick up the winning thread.

“It has been a long time since he ran and he has had his wind operation. But Jonjo (O’Neill) is very pleased with him at home and he is going there with a live chance,” said McDermott.

“It’s a big ask for him with having not run for six months, though, and may the best horse win.

“There have been a few horses this season that have had wind operations and have come through it, such as Le Roi Miguel last weekend, and the success rate is very high – but you never know until you get to the race.

“It is a very hot race and I’d say that it is as, if not more, competitive than the Hennessy and it is the best hurdle race of the season so far. It will be a big pointer to Cheltenham in March.”

Intersky Falcon has been ridden almost exclusively by Liam Cooper, but with the Cumbrian having been forced to retire from the saddle, Richard McGrath will take the mount for the first time.

“Our thoughts are with Liam, who used to ride the horse, and his brother Elliot is up here looking after him,” added McDermott.

“Elliot had a bad smash at Cheltenham and has only recent come back and of course Liam is retired, so it would be lovely if we could win the race and dedicate it to the brothers, as they have had a really rough time.

“I’m delighted for Richard McGrath to get the ride, though. He is a smashing lad and doesn’t get that many top-class rides.”

County Meath trainer Noel Meade is looking forward to his first runner at Newcastle tomorrow as Harchibald prepares to prove his mettle.

Last seen when running out a smooth winner of the Grade Two Morgiana Hurdle two weeks ago, when he had the smart Back In Front in second place, the five-year-old is the only Irish challenger in the eight-strong field.

“He is already over there. He travelled over yesterday and apart from a delay in Carlisle, everything went well,” Meade said on Friday.

“It was a good run last time at Punchestown and if he can do that again, it will be great.”

Harchibald was well-backed when only fifth in the County Hurdle at last term’s Cheltenham Festival, but showed that he is a force to be reckoned with when chasing home Hardy Eustace to finish fourth in the Emo Oil Champion Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

“I did think that he strengthened up over the summer, good ground will be perfect for him and there’s sure to be a good gallop so we’ll take our time,” added Meade.

Pertemps “Fighting Fifth” Hurdle betting:

Ladbrokes: 5-2 Inglis Drever, Intersky Falcon, 11-4 Harchibald, 7-1 Perouse, 8-1 Rigmarole, 11-1 Royal Shakespeare, 12-1 The French Furze, 200-1 Teme Valley.

William Hill: 9-4 Inglis Drever, 5-2 Harchibald, 3-1 Intersky Falcon, 8-1 Perouse, 10-1 Royal Shakespeare, 11-1 The French Furze, 12-1 Rigmarole, 250-1 Teme Valley.

Totesport: 9-4 Inglis Drever, 11-4 Harchibald, Intersky Falcon, 8-1 Perouse, 9-1 The French Furze, 11-1 Royal Shakespeare, 14-1 Rigmarole, 150-1 Teme Valley.