No firm plans for Drever

Howard Johnson was left to ponder plans for Inglis Drever after his stable star made the long journey to Windsor for the totesport Long Walk Hurdle only for the meeting to be cancelled.

The six-year-old was dispatched from his County Durham base on Friday but the meeting was a late casualty after an overnight frost.

“He spent seven and a half hours getting there and the same coming back, so 15 hours in a horsebox is not ideal,” said Johnson.

“He is fine though and has been out in his paddock.

“That’s the problem with this horse, we have to go miles and miles to run him - I think it would be quicker getting to France sometimes!”

Johnson is now waiting to see whether the British Horseracing Board will be successful in their wish to reschedule the race for another meeting in the next three weeks.

“I have no idea what we will do now, it all depends on whether they reschedule the race and where they run it,” added Johnson.

“Chepstow would be fine for him if they ran it there and Sandown would be OK too, he’s won around there but I just think he is a little bit better going left-handed.

“Wetherby would be ideal for us as it’s just down the road.”

Inglis Drever tops the staying hurdler division but before his World Hurdle triumph at the Cheltenham Festival last March, the In The Wings gelding had been competing at the highest level over two miles.

But Johnson said: “I definitely won’t be dropping him back in trip to get a run – we will just have to wait and see what happens with the rescheduling.”