International win opens options for Call Me Lord as Henderson plans next move

Nicky Henderson has not risen to the highest level of his profession without making the odd bold call or two, and giving Call Me Lord the chance to strut his stuff left-handed paid off when the talented six-year-old was right on top of his rivals in the Unibet-backed International Hurdle, Cheltenham's pre-eminent trial for hurdling's greatest event.

Henderson, with a record seven Champion Hurdles on his mantelpiece, knows more than most what it takes for a two-mile hurdler to graduate to top honours, but he credited Anthony Bromley – racing manager to winning owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede – with an assist in determining the right direction for Call Me Lord.

He is now a general 14-1 for the Champion Hurdle, which is also run under the Unibet banner, but Henderson staged an impassioned plea for ante-post players not to forget last season's star juvenile Pentland Hills, who finished fifth, five lengths behind his stablemate.

"There you go," exclaimed Henderson, reasoning some traits at home had convinced him and his team that Call Me Lord should remain running the other way round.

Call Me Lord (green silks) takes a flight of hurdles in third spot in the early stages of the International HurdleCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Everything he did at home was right-handed. He hasn't been doing that this year, so that's why we gave it a go."

The decision paid off under James Bowen – deputising for Munir and Souede's main man Daryl Jacob, who is out injured – as Call Me Lord made headway two out, gained a narrow advantage entering the final furlong and maintained it to deny Ballyandy by a neck.

With two-time Champion Hurdle winner Buveur D'Air facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Henderson has a vacancy to fill and added: "I would not be in any way disappointed with Pentland Hills and I thought he ran a good race. He shaped like the best horse in the race, but has got burly so will come on a lot for that.

"The Christmas Hurdle at Kempton will be interesting as we have Fusil Raffles for that, Verdana Blue if the ground is quick and maybe even Epatante.

"You've lost your number-one gun in Buveur, but it's nice to have back-ups. Well, they're not back-ups – they are better than that in a mixed division and there are opportunities for something to burst through, like Call Me Lord has, but I wouldn't underestimate Pentland Hills."

A consistent sort placed off huge weights in the last two Imperial Cups, the versatile Call Me Lord was a respectable second under Nico de Boinville in the Coral Hurdle at Ascot last month, a performance that swayed connections to come here.

"He's dispelled the myth of going left-handed so that gives us a few options," said Bromley, a shrewd operator in the equine transfer market.

"The race wasn't run to suit because he's a stayer coming back in trip and I thought we'd have no chance outsprinting these.

"I'm not saying he's a Champion Hurdle horse, but it's a murky division and we've got the option of going for that, which is exciting.

"This is a very good race in its own right and we don't have to worry about March today – this is a proper race."

Completing a hat-trick in the delighted stakes was Bowen, a young buck tipped one day to become champion but grateful to be in the headlines once more.

He rated this victory bigger than his Welsh Grand National success on Raz De Maree last year, and said: "This means a lot. A couple of months ago I wasn't riding a whole lot of winners, but things have picked up now and I can't thank people enough for supporting me.

"Nothing's clicked, it's just the horses you ride."

And making sure they go the right way.

Read The Lowdown from 8.30am daily onthe Racing Post mobile app with all the day's latest going, weather, market moves and non-runner news