21st-Nov-2020

I think that War Lord has been a little under-rated here by the market.  Winner of a handicap hurdle at Taunton last February off a mark of 120, Colin Tizzard’s horse ran well for a long way in the EBF novices’ final at Kempton in March behind McFabulous, on the day after the Cheltenham Festival.

Prominent from early that day, he was still third or fourth when they turned for home, before he weakened from the second last.

He shaped really encouragingly on his debut this season too at Wetherby, behind Arrivederci.  He and Arrivederci both travelled into the race well, but War Lord wasn’t fluent at any of the last three flights, and he did well to keep on as well as he did to take second place.

The handicapper raised him by 5lb for that, but it was his seasonal debut and just his sixth run over hurdles, and he is only five, so there is every chance that he will progress from that.  Also, Colin Tizzard’s horses are going much better now than they were going then.

Arrivederci is a player today, he is also a progressive individual, but he is a shorter price than War Lord, and he is 3lb worse off, the handicapper gave him 8lb for his Wetherby win, so I prefer War Lord.

Kid Commando was impressive in making all at Ascot last time, but he is short and he is 7lb higher now.  Our Power ran well but he ran as if he needed the run at Cheltenham in October when we had him on side, and he could bounce back, while Shakem Up’Arry won well at Ffos Last last time.

The biggest danger though is Umbrigado in my book.  We had David Pipe’s horse on side in the Betfair Exchange Hurdle at Ascot last December when he ran well for a long way.  He ran well in the three-mile hurdle at this meeting last year, and he can go well fresh.  He is a big danger, but I just prefer War Lord.

WAR LORD WON (ADV 10/1, SP 13/2)