Inglis Drever, the 2005 Ladbrokes World Hurdle winner, is bang on target for the Byrne Bros Cleeve Hurdle at Cheltenham on January 27, before he will attempt to win back the title he relinquished through injury last year.
Graham Wylie’s eight-year-old had to miss the Cheltenham Festival last season after picking up an injury when he fell in the Long Walk Hurdle at Chepstow.
However, he had showcased his talent by lowering the colours of the great Baracouda at Prestbury Park in a fascinating renewal of the staying championship the season before.
He showed he has lost none of his zest with a gutsy display in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November after nearly 12 months off the track and he is raring to go ahead of a possible clash with World Hurdle favourite, Black Jack Ketchum.
“He is still on target for the Cleeve Hurdle, whatever else runs, so we are all excited about him running in that and then, is he comes out of that fine, the plan is to take back there for the World Hurdle,” said Wylie.
“We will see how he gets on in the Cleeve at the end of the month but we know he likes Cheltenham so there are no worries on that score.”
Inglis Drever can still be backed at 6-1 with Betfred to reclaim his Ladbrokes World Hurdle crown.