Drever fine after successful comeback

Inglis Drever has shown no after-effects following his victorious reappearance at Newbury on Saturday, although he will still be campaigned sparingly this season.

The 2005 Ladbrokes World Hurdle and Order Of Merit winner was kept busy during that triumphant year, but was running for the first time since picking up a tendon injury last Christmas.

Following his hard-fought success over Irish Wolf in the VC Casino.com Long Distance Hurdle, the Howard Johnson-trained seven-year-old is now 5-1 with the sponsors to retain his crown at Cheltenham.

Owner Graham Wylie said: “He’s fine. I saw him on Sunday and he has come out of the race with no problems at all. Howard wants to see how he is for a week or two first and then see what to do with him.

“But I don’t think you’ll find he has a heavy campaign and he won’t run much before Cheltenham.”

Reflecting on Saturday, Wylie was thrilled to see one of his favourite horses back on the racecourse.

“It was just great,” he said. “Tony (Dobbin) got off him and said that he hadn’t left any of his form behind, and he will come on for the run too.

“You never know with horses that have had a year off, but he was giving 8lb to the runner-up and was very brave so it was a really good run.”

Another of Wylie’s stars that will be handled with kid gloves this seaso is Lennon, who has looked a particularly smart novice chaser in his two victories at Aintree recently.

“He’s going to have a break until the new year – he’s won twice and shown how good he is already,” reported the owner.