Thomas Darby has form in the book which suggests he is the one to be on in the 2m 3f feature contest at Fontwell on Sunday, the Grade 2 National Spirit Hurdle (15:20).
After being victorious in his sole start in a bumper, this Olly Murphy trained seven-year-old developed into a very smart hurdler last season when winning twice and posting some fine efforts in defeat.
They included a cracking second of 16 to Klassical Dream in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
Thomas Darby was held-up well off the pace in the earlier stages and made a mistake at the fourth.
He then made good headway three from home and stuck to the task well to go down by 4 1/2 lengths. It was a huge run, given how the race panned out.
The Diana Whateley owned son of Beneficial had some very useful performers in-behind, including subsequent Grade 1 winners Itchy Feet and Felix Desjy who finished third and fifth respectively.
Ascot form boosted
Thomas Darby then had his attention switched to chasing at the start of this campaign and ran well to finish runner-up at Warwick and third at Kempton, despite looking far from a natural and failing to live up to lofty expectations.
As a result, connections decided to switch him back over the smaller obstacles at Ascot last month.
Thomas Darby found plenty for pressure to beat the improving Song For Someone, a winner since, by a length in a competitive Grade 3 handicap under top weight.
The sixth home Pic D’orhy, to whom he was condeding 6lb and finished a further 13 lengths behind in sixth has since come out and landed the valuable Betfair Hurdle at Newbury. That gives the form a solid look.
It has earned Thomas Darby an official rating of 158, the highest in the five-runner National Spirit Hurdle line-up, and gives him 2lb and upwards in hand on his rivals.
So, with the ground and trip ideal, it makes Thomas Darby look a worthy 10/11 favourite with Paddy Power to go in again.
Quel Destin a formidable opponent in National Spirit Hurdle
Having scored in good style last time out, Quel Destin looks the obvious one to give Thomas Darby most to think about.
This five-year-old, who hails from the in-form yard of champion trainer Paul Nicholls, proved himself a top class juvenile last season when winning six times.
Those victories included Grade 2 contests at Doncaster and Haydock, plus a Grade 1 at Chepstow when scoring gamely by a neck.
Quel Destin also ran very well at the Cheltenham Festival when fifth of 14 to Pentland Hills in the Triumph Hurdle.
He has had five starts this season, winning twice, and comes into this on the back of a taking success in a Listed contest at Sandown.
Quel Destin raced prominently throughout and, after leading at the last, found plenty for pressure on the run-in to pull three lengths clear of Call Me Lord.
He was receiving 3lb from the runner-up, who arguably found the drop back to 2m against him, but it was nevertheless still a performance which commands him plenty of respect in this.
Quel Destin is a tough and consistent sort who looks sure to give it his best shot to follow-up. He can be backed at 3/1 with BetVictor to notch an eighth success over hurdles.
William Henry another with National Spirit Hurdle claims
Trainer Nicky Henderson has his team in flying form at present, so his sole representative William Henry commands plenty of respect now dropped back in trip
This Dai Walters owned 10-year-old benefitted from a wind op to land the ultra-competitive 2m 5f Grade 3 Coral Cup at last year’s Cheltenham Festival in March.
William Henry came with a superb late run under a perfectly-timed ride from jockey Nico de Boinville to get up on the line and touch off Wicklow Brave by a head.
He then went on to round-off the campaign with a fine 11 1/2 lengths fourth of 15 to If The Cap Fits in a Grade 1 over 3m at the Aintree Grand National Festival when holding every chance before weakening two from home.
William Henry has had just two starts this season and ran really well on return to action when a keeping on 4 1/2 lengths third to Summerville Boy in the 2m 4f Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.
He had Quel Destin just under six lengths behind in fifth. That run makes the son of King’s Theatre a big player in this.
Although not so good last time out over 3m when last of eight to Paisley Park in another Grade 2 at Cheltenham, the return to 2m 4f may well see William Henry in a far better light.
So, with underfoot conditions holding no fears, and Henderson operating at a strike rate of 31 per cent in the last 14 days at the time of writing, William Henry could well be a bit of value at 5/1 with Bethard.
Chesterfield and Monsieur Le Coq complete quintet
The field is completed by Chesterfield, who has a mountain to climb on official ratings, and the Jane Williams trained Monsieur Le Coq.
He could be capable of outrunning odds of 11/2 with SportNation.
After showing a game attitude to land the Welsh Champion Hurdle on soft ground at Ffos Las on seasonal reappearance, this five-year-old ran an absolute stormer off 7lb higher when a half-length third of 14 to Harambe in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Monsieur Lecoq travelled like the best horse for much of the race until getting edged out of things in the dying strides.
That huge run saw him pitched into the Grade 2 International Hurdle at Cheltenham and he ran very well to finish a 4 1/2 lengths fourth of eight to Call Me Lord.
After getting outpaced two from home, Monsieur Lecoq finished the race off powerfully and only just failed to get up for third.
He then found life far too hot last time out when a well-beaten 22-length seventh of nine to Honeysuckle in the Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, but this represents a return to calmer waters.
On the pick of his form, Monsieur Le Coq is not totally out of the National Spirit Hurdle and – on adjusted ratings – has just 4lb to find with Thomas Darby.
