MAD ABOUT THE BOY

George ace is one to beat ‘big two’ in Fighting Fifth

SUMMERVILLE BOY can relish the role of gatecrasher in the Betvictor Fighting Fifth Hurdle (2.05) at Newcastle.

The Grade 1 two-miler is billed as a clash between Nicky Henderson’s dual Champion Hurdler Buveur D’air – who captured this race 12 months ago – and the Gordon Elliott-trained Samcro.

But, just as Bristol

De Mai was the party pooper in the Betfair Chase

‘match’ between

Native River and

Might Bite at Haydock last Saturday, horseracing is seldom that predictable.

Summerville Boy came out on top in both his top-level tests over hurdles last season, beating Kalashnikov by four lengths in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in January before holding the same rival by a neck in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Tom George’s six-year-old faces the sternest test of his fledgling career but, with plenty of improvement still to come, is capable of serving up a surprise.

The Betvictor Rehearsal Handicap Chase (3.20) looks wide open, but preference is for LAKE VIEW LAD. Nick Alexander’s eight-yearold needs to produce a personal best to collect on his return to the fray, but had an upwardly mobile profile over fences last winter and his record of two wins and a second from three visits to Gosforth Park is also a plus.

At Newbury, BALLYMOY gets the vote in the Ladbrokes Intermediate Hurdle (2.25).

Having rattled off a hat-trick over timber last season, Daryl Jacob’s mount opened his account at Chepstow on his comeback in October, and a 3lb rise in the weights looks fair.

Ian Williams continues to fire in the winners, and SPEEDO BOY (left) is taken to add to his tally by beating 14 rivals for the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (1.50).

The four-year-old has 6lb more on his back as a result of his one-length margin over Mahlervous at Cheltenham a fortnight ago, but another good run is on the cards.

He didn’t show his true colours when last of six finishers behind Modus at Cheltenham in October, but better is expected of BIGMARTRE in the Ladbrokes In Memory Of Tara Von Ihering Handicap Chase (3.35).