Tom George's Summerville Boy is sure to be one of the most popular horse racing naps on Saturday afternoon as last year's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner attempts to recapture his winning ways by landing victory in a competitive renewal of the International Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Having stormed to victory in the premier novice hurdling contest in March, Summerville Boy was expecting to be one of the star hurdlers of this season, with the Champion Hurdle sure to be at the top of the priorities at the Cheltenham Festival. However, he failed to land a blow when well beaten by Buveur D'Air and Samcro in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle last month and George's stable star will be on the comeback mission on Saturday to try and get back on the winning thread.
A return to Prestbury Park could launch him back into the Champion Hurdle picture and he is the 11/4 favourite to win the International Hurdle on day two of Cheltenham's International meeting, but there will be a plethora of lively challengers bidding for glory.
Grade One-winning novice We Have A Dream is sitting as 11/2 second favourite for the International Hurdle, but he has also struggled to build on his fine novice campaign and has disappointed at Wincanton and Ascot this season, while Silver Streak, Brain Power and Old Guard are another triumvirate bidding for glory at GL50.
Three-times winner The New One is aiming to add to his sensational record in this race, but the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained 7/1 shot is eyeing retirement if he fails to find his old spark, but this track has often seen him sparkle, so he could be another notable challenger.
Nevertheless, all eyes will be on Summerville Boy, who is currently as big as 20/1 for the Champion Hurdle in March, but a win here could see his price plummet.
Watch Summerville Boy claim victory in the 2018 Supreme Novices' Hurdle here:
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