Call Me Lord wins thrilling Unibet International Hurdle

Call Me Lord (2-1F) put his left-handed stigma to bed as he and James Bowen won the Grade 2 Unibet International Hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson and owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, in a race which developed into a sprint at the end.

The favourite was settled in mid-division for the majority of the race by Bowen, as Harry Cobden and Elixir de Nutz made the early running. Pentland Hills was settled nicely by Nico de Boinville, with Ch'tibello and Harry Skelton moving up along the turn to dispute 2nd. At the 3rd flight, Monsieur Lecoq, the Welsh Champion Hurdle winner, was big, and gave Lizzie Kelly more time in the air than she was bargaining for in a 2 mile hurdle. The steady pace continued throughout the side of the course, and at the top of the hill it was still pretty much anyone's race.

Pentland Hills was fast and accurate at the 5th, and at the next flight, Ballyandy was slow, being rousted along by Sam Twiston-Davies leaving the hurdle. Coming down the hill, over the second last and into the home straight, the sprint developed. Cobden kicked on Elixir de Nutz, but the lack of race fitness shown itself early on, as they dropped back through the field approaching the last. At the final flight, it was a picture to behold, as Ch'tibello, Call Me Lord and Pentland Hills jumped three abreast. Pentland Hills got away quickest, but just like Elixir de Nutz, the petrol tank emptied rapidly on the soft ground. From the clouds, Ballyandy came on the scene running a remarkable race, as Call Me Lord powered to the front, but Ballyandy was still coming. Call Me Lord needed the line, and thankfully for connections, got it just in time. Ballyandy had to settle for second, with Ch'tibello running a brave race for third. Monsieur Lecoq stayed on strongly to pinch fourth place from a tired Pentland Hills.

Afterwards, Call Me Lord was made a general 16-1 chance for the Unibet Champion Hurdle. His stigma put to bed, it will be interesting to see how he fares in the big one come March.

Photos: ©Tom Williams / JTW Equine Images.