Summerville Boy set for Newcastle outing

Horse Racing

Racing365
November 28, 2018 10:02 am

Summerville Boy will get a chance to build on his impressive two-mile form from last season in the Fighting Fit Hurdle at Newcastle.

Trainer Tom George recognises that Saturday’s race will be a tough assignment for his Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner given that he will be going up against Buveur D’Air and Samcro.

However, the Stroud handler has been delighted with Summerville Boy’s work over the summer and feels he will be in strong shape going to Newcastle.

‘He had a good summer, he’s been back in since the middle of July and since then we’ve been gradually stepping him up and he’s ready to go now,’ George told At The Races.

‘Hopefully it will be a good platform for the rest of the season.

‘We had a few mistakes in the latter part of his races, but essentially he’s a good jumper.

I think he’s got an unbelievable amount of talent, he was just looking around, so it’s greenness more than anything.

‘We’ve been happy with his schooling so I don’t see it being a problem.

‘ George feels Samcro is the horse to beat this weekend, but having watched him edge out Summerville Boy’s stablemate Black Op in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in March, he is hopeful.

He added: ‘Obviously they have been talking Samcro up as the best to come out of Ireland for some time and if that’s the case, then we’ll be happy to come behind him, but we’ll give it our best shot and see how we get on.

‘We couldn’t be happier, he’s in at the deep end but hopefully we’ll have something to build on.’