National Spirit provides Thomas Darby with the perfect test

Stella Artois National Spirit Hurdle (Grade 2) | 2m3f | SKY

Listen out for four joyous words in the winner's enclosure after Fontwell's biggest race of the season: "That was the plan."

Time and again at this stage of the season, valuable contests are seen as stepping stones to Cheltenham, rather than being enjoyed in their own right. The immediate question asked of connections by festival-obsessed pundits is "What is the plan for the winner?".

'TWTP' is long odds-on to be the short and swift answer after the National Spirit Hurdle, not because the runners are not up to scratch, far from it, but because this £80,000 contest is a target in itself and one that is the prime aim for its main contenders.

As long as there is no 'Ryanair Hurdle' at Cheltenham, this 2m3f contest will always be a major draw for horses such as Thomas Darby, who would need remarkably testing conditions to be a serious contender for the 2m Champion Hurdle and would be taking a huge leap into the unknown in the 3m Stayers' Hurdle.

Yet in a valuable handicap over this trip at Ascot last month he resumed upward progress over hurdles after an abortive chasing campaign with a fine display off top weight and a BHA mark of 151.

That hinted strongly at better things to come from a horse who has raced just six times over hurdles and he is just the sort to develop into a candidate for the Grade 1 2m4f Aintree Hurdle in April.

A revised BHA mark of 158 already makes him the pick of the weights in this field, as he would be 2lb worse off in a handicap with the Nicky Henderson-trained William Henry, who was aimed at this after failing to stay three miles behind Paisley Park at Cheltenham.

This is certainly a more feasible target for William Henry than bidding for a repeat of last year's Coral Cup victory, now he is 5lb higher in the weights, and his Relkeel Hurdle third at Cheltenham in January gives him every chance here.

It is unquestionably D-day for Quel Destin, whose trainer Paul Nicholls calls it the five-year-old's Champion Hurdle. Only fifth behind William Henry on New Year's Day, he ran the race of his life when landing the Contenders Hurdle at Sandown.

For all that the odds-on Call Me Lord may not have been at his best, the decisive way he gave weight and a beating to several other smart rivals strongly suggested he had reached a new level.

Monsieur Lecoq has decent claims at the weights judged on his pre-Christmas handicap efforts at Cheltenham and Ascot, when he was second behind Not So Sleepy, but his occasional keenness raises concerns over whether he will be suited by this longer trip.

However, this 2m3f is a lot less exacting than the 2m4f of the Relkeel and ought to be within the compass of Quel Destin – if he gets the trip he should give Thomas Darby quite a race.

What they say

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Quel Destin
He's in good shape and had a nice run at Sandown. This has always been his main target. He's under the radar as a second-season novice and this has always been at the forefront of my mind for him as this trip on soft ground at Fontwell should suit and it's a valuable prize. In many ways this is his Champion Hurdle.

Olly Murphy, trainer of Thomas Darby
He's in good form and conditions will suit him well. The step up in trip has helped and I'm looking forward to the race, it's a good pot. This has been the plan since Ascot and it would be nice if it came off.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of William Henry
It's been a matter of finding somewhere to go with him. He doesn't stay three miles and I can't see him winning the Coral Cup again off a higher mark. There's nothing at Cheltenham and this is a good prize, he's rated 2lb lower than Thomas Darby but is better with the others.

William Henry: won the 2019 Coral Cup at the Cheltenham FestivalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Lizzie Kelly, rider of Monsieur Lecoq
He ran a good race in Ireland but the ground was too quick. Stepping up in trip is something we've wanted to do for a while as it will give us an idea of what we want to do with him at the spring festivals. It should suit him but it's tricky as he can be quite different – one day he'll completely switch off, the next day he'll pull your arms out.

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