Drever targets World Hurdle title
Inglis Drever has a third Ladbrokes World Hurdle title in his sights after posting one of his most impressive performances to date in the Byrne Group Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The undoubted star of Howard Johnson’s powerful County Durham yard hit his traditional flat spot at the top of the hill but went through the gears rounding the final turn to collect by five lengths.
Although beaten by Blazing Bailey in the Grade Two contest 12 months ago, the nine-year-old comprehensively turned the tables on this occasion, with Alan King’s runner left trailing in second.
Inglis Drever, who had three second placings and two wins to his name from his previous five visits to Prestbury Park, proved popular in the betting ring and was backed down to 11-8 favouritism from an opening show of 7-4.
And his supporters raucously cheered him up the hill as he led before the final flight under substitute jockey Richard Johnson to come home the most popular winner of the afternoon.
Ladbrokes cut Inglis Drever into even money from 6-4 to again land the title he claimed in 2005 and 2007.
His trainer said: “We’ll keep him ticking over at home now and get him ready for March when we’ll see if he can do the three-timer.
“We have been held up with the weather but he went down to another gallop I have got during the week and I knew then he was right.
“We got there and it started snowing and by the time we had worked the horses the gallop was covered, but he was happy and we did no more after that.
“He had one swim last Sunday morning and we only did four laps with him as he is not a very good swimmer. He would be the weakest swimmer I have in the yard, but he then goes and wins races like that!
“You can work him with the slowest horses at home and he gets beat, but that is the way he is and he’s the flag-bearer of the yard.”
With stable jockey Denis O’Regan sidelined through suspension, the County Durham handler was more than happy with the performance of his stand-in.
He added: “Richard was a very good substitute and one of the reasons I picked Richard was that if Denis gets banned again then I would have a back-up for Cheltenham.”
The winning rider said: “I wasn’t feeling confident at the top of the hill but people have said it plenty of times and Howard told me that is how he runs.
“He ran like Paddy (Brennan) told me he did in the stayers’ hurdle in that he was struggling down the hill and then took off and picked them up.
“If they asked me to ride him again I wouldn’t say no!”
Blazing Bailey’s trainer Alan King said: “It was a great run, no qualms about it. If you meet Inglis Drever right, he’s a better horse.”
Third home Gone To Lunch ran a cracking race for a novice, and his trainer Jeremy Scott commented: “He ran really well, and we’ll go for the three-mile novice race. I hope he might go chasing next season.”
