Cheltenham Festival 2007: Drever Regains World Hurdle Title

Inglis Drever ran out a thrilling winner of an incident-packed Ladbrokes World Hurdle, the feature race on the third day of the Cheltenham Festival.

Jockey Paddy Brennan had to get serious with the Howard Johnson-trained 5-1 chance - winner of the race in 2005 - from a long way out but he jumped the penultimate flight with every chance and dug deep to hold Mighty Man by three-quarters of a length.

Blazing Bailey ran on well to claim third, four lengths behind the principals, but favourite Black Jack Ketchum took an early fall, much to the dismay of his many backers. The runners had barely settled into a rhythm when Ketchum crashed out, but thankfully Jonjo O'Neill's charge seemed none the worse for the spill.

Inglis Drever and Mighty Man both hit their characteristic flat spots early on and neither looked like a front-runner until the race began in earnest. The winner, who became the first horse to regain his crown since Crimson Embers 21 years ago, was being driven vigorously a long way out and did not move into contention until the field descended the hill.

Having had to ride for all he was worth, Brennan suddenly found himself in front on the run to the last and Inglis Drever delivered a grand jump when required. Mighty Man was less fluent at the final obstacle but Richard Johnson also got a fine tune out of his mount and pressed the winner all the way to the line.

Blazing Bailey had travelled best of the three until the straight and ran a bold race for a five-year-old. Brennan told Channel 4 Racing: "I heard the shouts from the crowd so I knew Black Jack had fallen, but I knew I had a lot more to worry about. I've never felt as much pressure going into any race as I did today, because I knew how good he was. Howard Johnson knew how good he was and [owner] Graham Wylie knew how good he was. He is some horse."

Josh Hanbury, owner of the Henry Daly-trained Mighty Man, said: "I am thrilled. I thought for a moment he was going to get there but it wasn't to be - he has still run a great race. He just lost his place a bit at the back of the back straight. All being well, we will now go to Aintree as long as he comes out of the race OK."

O'Neill, while obviously disappointed, was relieved that both Tony McCoy and Black Jack Ketchum had returned safe and sound. I haven't spoken to Tony yet," said O'Neill. "It's an annoying thing to happen, but I suppose that's racing. The main thing is both the jockey and horse have come back OK and he lives to fight another day. I would think we will take him to Aintree."

Victor Chandler installed Inglis Drever as the 4-1 favourite to win his third World Hurdle crown in 2008.