Will classy Call Me Lord make the grade on his chasing debut?

Tuesday: 1.30 UttoxeterGrehan Consulting Novices' Limited Handicap Chase | 2m4f | 4yo+ | Sky

Call Me Lord's last two wins have come in Grade 2 company, but both were over hurdles and the last was two years ago this Saturday in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham. He was in the reckoning for the Champion Hurdle afterwards, but that win was the ceiling of his ability.

He has dropped from a career-high BHA rating of 160 and now races off 148, but that still makes him topweight on his chasing debut in handicap company. He would look a good bet were this a hurdle, but it remains to be seen whether he can repeat a high level over fences.

Call Me Lord goes chasing at quite a late stage of his career. He is already eight and will be nine in a few weeks, which usually makes me question why connections have left it so late?

It could simply be that he was making hay over hurdles so they didn't feel the need to go chasing, but in last season's stable tour Nicky Henderson said "he's never enjoyed fences at home".

So what has changed? This is information that, as a punter, you will simply never know unless you are connected to the owners or the yard.

Instead, we have to work with the facts that we have at hand and pedigrees can sometimes give some hope. So how does Call Me Lord's pedigree stack up for chasing?

There's not much encouragement to be had, because both half-siblings who raced did most of their running on the Flat and his half-brother Saman was beaten in his sole chase start.

What about the course? That could also be a problem as Uttoxeter's fences can catch horses out. Only seven British tracks have had more horses lose their rider since 2019 and it's evidently not the easiest place to jump. Call Me Lord will have to take to it first time up.

All this is not to say he won't do, of course. He might well be a natural and make a mockery of his mark but, in a race that revolves around him, there look to be more negatives than positives.
Race analysis by Graeme Rodway

What they say

Anthony Honeyball, trainer of Gustavian
We're happy with him and he's been schooling well. We've been very keen to finally get him started and he's got ground in his favour, I think softer the better for him. The wind op was just to tweak him, we didn't want to have to do something midway through the season and it shouldn't affect his form. He's been so consistent for us, loves the track and we're excited to run him.

Tom George, trainer of Come On Teddy
We've been looking forward to going chasing with him and this race is a good starting point for what we hope will be a good season. He's been schooling nicely over fences and has always shaped like a chaser rather than a hurdler. It's probably a bit short to start with but he won't mind the ground at all.

Harry Fry, trainer of Master Debonair
We were pleased enough with his debut run over fences at Ffos Las and we're happy to see the forecast rain coming in. He's benefitted from that first run, not just in fitness but in experience. We think that the step up in trip, with that run under his belt, will hopefully see him be very competitive.

Kerry Lee, trainer of Ballybegg
He's taken to fences quite well and he'll be a better horse left-handed this time compared to Carlisle. I think we're all wrong in the weights, which isn't great, and it's a very hot race with Call Me Lord in it but it's the right track and trip for him and I think he'll improve from his last run. The cheekpieces will sharpen him up and we'll see how we go.
Reporting by Catherine Macrae

Racing Post exclusive offer. New customers can get £30 in free bets. First single & e/w bet only. Odds of 1/1 or greater. 6 x £5 bet token. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets redeemable on horseracing only. Free bets are non-withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions. Further T&Cs apply. 18+. begambleaware.org.