Drever out to win on Merit
Inglis Drever will try to wrap up the Order Of Merit title with victory in the Grade One Scottish And Newcastle Aintree Hurdle tomorrow.
The Howard Johnson-trained runner currently tops the standings for the British Horseracing Board’s £250,000 (€364,500) prize and victory at Aintree would seal the competition.
Inglis Drever will be stepping back in trip to two and a half miles after winning the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham on his last start, and owner Graham Wylie reports the horse to be in good heart.
“Howard is very happy with him and he is in the same sort of form as he was before Cheltenham,” he said.
“I’m now just hoping that we get a bit of luck in running.
“Given the season that the Drever has had, he owes us nothing, and I just hope he picks up enough points to secure the Order Of Merit for the stable staff.
“He’s quite versatile with regard to the ground and trip but, to be honest, this two-and-a-half-miler has been the plan for him all season – he only went to Cheltenham as Royal Rosa was injured.”
Colm Murphy is optimistic that the trip will suit his stable star Brave Inca.
The seven-year-old has yet to get his head in front from five races outside novice company but he has performed with credit on each occasion, including when third in the Smurfit Champion Hurdle.
He was two heads behind Hardy Eustace and Harchibald that day, and Murphy reports him to have pleased since.
“He seems in good form, and everything has gone really well since Cheltenham,” he said. “He travelled over last night, and everything seems fine.”
Brave Inca has done most of his racing over the minimum distance but won over the trip in handicap company last term.
Murphy is not worried, either, about this being his first visit to Liverpool.
“I think he should go all right,” he added. “The track should not be a problem, and I think the extra half a mile will suit him – he’ll be doing his best work at the end.
“He deserves to be there, and we are hopeful he will run well.”
Macs Joy, fifth in the Champion Hurdle, has proved too good for Brave Inca on three occasions this season, including in January’s AIG Europe Champion Hurdle.
However, this will be the six-year-old’s first attempt at the trip, although his trainer Jessica Harrington feels he will have a good chance of seeing it out at Aintree.
“He travelled over on Tuesday, he’s settled in well and seems to be in good form,” said Mrs Harrington.
“We are going over a new distance tomorrow which is unknown territory, but I suppose an easier track like this will help him.
“He took Cheltenham in his stride and there have been no problems since.”
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