TOM STILL BACKING HIS BOY

TRAINER Tom George hopes Summerville Boy can bounce back from a disappointing comeback in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth Hurdle to show he is a realistic Champion Hurdle contender in this afternoon’s International Hurdle at Cheltenham. Noel Fehily’s mount won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival in March but was beaten 22 lengths by dual Champion Hurdler Buveur D’Air on his lacklustre return a fortnight ago. George said: ‘He was never at the races (at Newcastle) for some reason. It wasn’t through fitness and he was in good form going into the race. ‘He is quite highly strung, so maybe the journey did not do him any good. ‘He was never travelling and was not going to win after a mile. Nothing has come to light. ‘We need to work out whether we should be sticking at two miles or going further.’ Summerville Boy’s seven opponents include three-time International Hurdle winner The New One. The 10-year-old will wear a visor for the first time after lacking sharpness on his comeback in the Welsh Champion Hurdle. Trainer Nigel TwistonDavies said: ‘We are putting the headgear on to hopefully help sharpen him up, as he was disappointing last time. We need a bit more sparkle than Ffos Las.’