Windsor option for Drever

Inglis Drever could take on Baracouda for a second time this season in Saturday’s totesport Long Walk Hurdle at Windsor.

Trainer Howard Johnson had originally earmarked the race for his other top staying hurdler No Refuge, who scored at the track last month but is not a definite starter having had a minor setback.

The County Durham handler would also like Inglis Drever to pick up more points in his quest to regain his Order Of Merit title.

“No Refuge had a stone bruise last week. He is right again now and bouncing, but we have things covered just in case,” Johnson told the Racing Post.

“It will be a difficult call. I don’t like running two in the same race but we’ll confirm both and make our minds up during the week.

“I might have to run Inglis Drever. It’s a Grade One race and he could do with the points to put him back up the table in the Order Of Merit.”

Baracouda has won the Long Walk four times so far but was beaten by Inglis Drever in the World Hurdle and in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury last month.

Johnson’s other stable star Grey Abbey now looks likely to go for back-to-back successes in the Letheby & Christopher Chase, formerly known as the Pillar Property Chase, at Cheltenham in January.

The 11-year-old has not raced since being pulled up in the Charlie Hall Chase in October, but Johnson added: “Grey Abbey is ready to run.

“I want to go for the Pillar again but don’t want to run him giving weight away.

“I might put him in the Roland Meyrick at Wetherby, which is just down the road, or he could go for the Lexus Chase before the Pillar.

“He has really come back to himself. My horses were all wrong on Charlie Hall day but he’s bouncing again.”