McFabulous: a non-stayer or just another who failed to live up to the hype?

2.20 KemptonDornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m5f | 5yo+ | ITV4/RTV

The general consensus was that McFabulous didn’t stay three miles when he failed to justify 15-8 favouritism in the Long Distance Hurdle at Newbury in November, but was it stamina that thwarted him or was he just another who failed to live up to the hype surrounding him?

I’m not convinced he didn’t stay. He recorded a Racing Post Rating of 157 in finishing third behind Thyme Hill and Paisley Park, who have since filled the first two places in the Long Walk at Ascot, and that was a 3lb better performance than McFabulous had managed when landing the Persian War on his reappearance. It’s not often that a horse is able to run a career best and fail to stay the trip, yet that is what many are proposing happened to McFabulous.

The Betfair in-running market gives further weight to the argument that he was beaten on merit. Non-stayers usually trade at significantly shorter than their starting price in running, yet McFabulous traded at no shorter than 2.42 despite going off a warm 15-8 favourite.

Nevertheless, a reproduction of that form would leave him with only 4lb to find with the best of these at the weights, and McFabulous is still lightly raced and open to that sort of progress.

When referring to the best of these I’m talking about just one horse and that’s Younevercall.

He's joint top on BHA ratings with Thomas Darby, but gets 4lb from that rival and loves Kempton. His form figures at the Sunbury venue read 112 and the flat track evidently suits.

Another thing that suits is good going and that might help explain his love of the course. Kempton holds claims to producing the best ground in Britain and Younevercall likes it.

This will be the first time he has contested a race in January in his career as he's usually kept away from winter ground, but he proved he can go through heavy when seven lengths behind Paisley Park in the Long Walk at Ascot last time and conditions shouldn’t be that bad here.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

Younevercall looking to cash in on race switch

A Relkeel Hurdle run at Kempton promises to be a somewhat different race to the one that was originally scheduled for Cheltenham on New Year's Day, but Kim Bailey is not complaining.

Younevercall is alone among the seven runners in never having been entered at Cheltenham. It's the switch to right-handed Kempton which has encouraged Bailey to throw his hat into the ring, and the ten-year-old ticks plenty of boxes, getting weight from all bar the mare Indefatigable, and on a course where his record is two wins and the closest of seconds from only three appearances.

Younevercall: wasn't entered for the original race at CheltenhamCredit: Getty Images

That's not to say Bailey does not have some reservations mind you, for while the eight extra days between Cheltenham and Kempton have helped, he still has a nagging fear that the race might come too soon after Younevercall's excellent fourth behind Paisley Park and Thyme Hill in Ascot's Long Walk Hurdle only three weeks ago.

Bailey, who sends a strong team to Kempton and also runs Imperial Aura in the card's second Grade 2, explained: "He wasn't entered for the original race at Cheltenham as he can't go left-handed – his form is simply non existent that way around – but I do have a concern that this might come a bit soon after Ascot.

Saturday tipping and analysis:

Pricewise: Tom Segal thinks last year's race might be the key to cracking Welsh National (Members' Club)

Saturday Sizzlers: Paul Kealy has a strong set of bets for Kempton with three cracking plays (Members' Club)

Big-race Trends: look for unexposed types with right-handed form in Lanzarote (Members' Club)

Paul Kealy's must-have banker at Chepstow on Saturday

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

Saturday's free racing tips: our tipping experts with the day's best bets

Spread betting: take this chaser who is tailor-made for the Welsh National marathon test

Paul Kealy reckons Kempton offers the best Placepot card

"He likes to have quite a good break between races, but because it's been switched to Kempton I feel I have to run as he has so few options and he's ten now."

On a more positive note, he added: "The Long Walk fourth was a phenomenal run though, and if he'd jumped the second last and the last, he'd have been two or three lengths closer. He's a good horse and he runs well at Kempton, he's just very hard one to keep sound."

What they say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Call Me Lord and On The Blind Side
This is a good race for Call Me Lord, but it's a pity about the penalty. At level weights I'd be very optimistic, but the Grade 1 penalty makes it more difficult. On The Blind Side is back up the handicap again, but he's staying over hurdles. His recent good form is over three miles at Cheltenham, and two miles five there wouldn't have worried me at all, but it might be a bit sharp for him around Kempton.

Tom George, trainer of Summerville Boy
He's very close to the best over two miles and he's only five or so lengths off the best at three miles. He's been running consistently all year and probably two and a half is his optimum. He wasn't beaten more than three or four lengths over two miles last time and I think this is probably his ideal trip.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Thomas Darby
He ran well at Aintree and I think the step up in trip will suit. I'm hoping they go a good gallop and we’ll probably ride him fairly prominently. There should be a bit of pace in the race with Younevercall and I think he has a good each-way chance. Sooner rather than later you'll see him go up to three miles.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of McFabulous
The trip should suit him, the track should suit him and going right-handed should suit him. There are lots of pluses, so hopefully he'll run well.

Paul Webber, trainer of Indefatigable
Better ground is better for her, but we have very few options and she's in such good order that we'd like to run her. They went no gallop when she was beaten at Kempton in November and the winner was given a wonderful ride. We probably didn't show enough confidence in her getting the trip.
Reporting by Graham Dench

Saturday previews and analysis:

Members' Club: stay at home, keep warm and enjoy a feast of fantastic racing on ITV4

Members' Club: strong team at happy hunting ground a good pointer to Nicky Henderson's fortunes

Can favourite Secret Reprieve end Evan Williams' wait for Welsh National glory?

Paul Nicholls on his Welsh National pair – plus key quotes from other trainers

Members' Club: picking the right profile: what does it take to win the Welsh Grand National?

Paul Kealy thinks the Finale Juvenile Hurdle is Nassalam's race to lose

'Very exciting' Protektorat out to show Grade 1 pedigree in rescheduled Dipper

Which of Imperial Aura's rivals can give him the Grade 1 test he needs?

Graeme Rodway thinks Paul Nicholls has found a valuable edge for the Lanzarote

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